BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Saturday, criticised the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for repealing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replacing it with the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Act, and announced that the protest will be held at the national level from the party and also from the Congress-led government in the state.
Addressing a joint press conference with Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, the Chief Minister alleged that the new law has stripped rural workers and panchayats of their rights and charged that this is being done at the behest of the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
"The Congress will take up the issue, and the Karnataka government will also address it simultaneously. A national action plan will be chalked out immediately to decide the steps to be taken by both the party and the state government, " CM Siddaramaiah said.