New Delhi. On October 20, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the central administration, labeling the 'Viksit Bharat Ji Ram Ji' initiative as a surgical strike on the social security framework of rural India. The party alleged that the incumbent government has now mastered the art of pilfering the hard-earned wages of rural laborers.
MGNREGA as a Lifeline During Severe Drought
Sharing a news report on the platform X, party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out that districts like Beed in Maharashtra are currently battling the worst drought in a decade. Under such dire circumstances, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act used to serve as a reliable safety net and guaranteed support for rural households.
Ground Realities and Phoney Attendance Claims
The opposition leader argued that replacing MGNREGA with the 'Viksit Bharat-Ji Ram Ji' or VB-Giramji scheme amounts to a direct assault on the protective mechanisms shielding rural communities. Ground-level investigations cited in the discussion revealed that multiple villagers had not performed any actual labor for months, yet official government records continued to reflect active work status for them.
Allegations of Clone Apps and Systematic Theft
The party further alleged that local leaders are illegally pocketing wage amounts originally registered in the names of genuine workers. Citing instances from Uttar Pradesh and other states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the reports highlighted irregularities involving bogus attendance and the use of purported 'clone apps'. The Congress General Secretary emphasized that this goes beyond ordinary corruption, representing a systematic theft of workers' earnings.
