Pradesh Congress president urges unorganized labourers to join ‘MGNREGA Bachao Andolan’

Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Asish Kumar Saha on Tuesday urged labourers engaged in the unorganised sector to join the Congress-led movement demanding the rollback of changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Addressing a large rally on the concluding day of a three-day training camp organised by the Kailashahar District Congress Seva Dal Committee, Saha said that, following directives from the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the TPCC and its frontal organisations launched the statewide ‘MGNREGA Bachao Andolan’ (Save MGNREGA Movement) on January 11.

Speaking at Kailashahar in Unakoti district, the Pradesh Congress president alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government was attempting to snatch employment rights from people engaged in the unorganised sector. He claimed that under the proposed VB-G RAM G Act, crores of unorganised labourers would lose their right to guaranteed employment.

Saha said the Congress had already launched a nationwide agitation against the proposed changes and urged farmers, labourers, and women to raise their voices against what he termed the Centre’s move to abolish MGNREGA.

Referring to the recent communal violence at Saidarpar in Unakoti district, Saha alleged that the incident was a fallout of attempts by the BJP and its parent organisation, the RSS, to spread communal hatred. At least 10 people were injured in the clash, which reportedly broke out over the collection of chanda (subscription) for a local Shiva temple on January 10.

He said Tripura had a long tradition of communal harmony but claimed the situation had deteriorated since the BJP came to power, with sections of society bearing the brunt of communal tension. Saha also demanded adequate compensation for families affected by the Saidarpar violence.

Earlier in the day, Congress Seva Dal activists, led by senior MLA Birajit Sinha and district Congress president Md. Badrujaman, organised a rally demanding the rollback of MGNREGA. A mega road march was taken out from the Samhati Mela ground in the Padmer Par area, passing through various parts of Kailashahar town before concluding at the same venue.

Speaking on the occasion, Birajit Sinha said around 500 Seva Dal workers were trained during the camp and described the programme as timely amid rising division and communal discord across the country. He alleged that the BJP and the RSS were deliberately attempting to disrupt peace and harmony by creating religious frenzy.