With Rahul Gandhi in Germany during the Winter Session, the Congress braces for BJP attacks as Parliament prepares to debate the proposed renaming of MNREGA.
New Delhi:
Ahead of a crucial parliamentary debate on the proposed renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), the Congress has issued a three-day whip directing all its MPs to remain present in Parliament. However, senior party leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi will be absent, as he is currently in Germany.
The bill to rename MNREGA — a flagship welfare scheme introduced by the UPA government — is expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha within the next day or two. In anticipation of heated exchanges, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also instructed its MPs to ensure full attendance in Parliament from December 15 to 19.
Numbers Won’t Hurt Congress, Politics Might
While Gandhi’s absence is unlikely to impact the voting outcome — the Congress holds 99 seats in the Lok Sabha, with the Opposition bloc totalling 234 seats against the NDA’s 291 in the 543-member House — it has provided the BJP fresh ammunition for political attacks.
The ruling party has already criticised Gandhi for travelling abroad during the Winter Session. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked the Congress leader, saying the post of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) has turned into “Leader of Paryatan.”
“Rahul Gandhi is a non-serious politician. When the country is in work mode, he is in permanent vacation mode,” Poonawalla said, also referring to Gandhi’s past foreign trips during key political moments.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi echoed similar criticism, calling Gandhi a “part-time leader” and alleging that he frequently remains abroad when Parliament is in session, only to later complain about not being allowed to speak.
Congress Hits Back
The Congress has strongly rejected the BJP’s criticism, pointing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent overseas visits. Party leaders argue that Gandhi’s absence is being deliberately politicised to distract from the core issue — the government’s move to rename MNREGA.
The proposed new name — G Ram G (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission – Rural) — has sparked outrage within the Congress, which views the move as an ideological attempt to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of hypocrisy, stating that removing Gandhi’s name reflects the RSS’s long-standing discomfort with the Mahatma.
“Erasing Gandhi’s name while claiming to honour him abroad exposes the hollowness of this government,” Kharge said in a post on X.
‘Attack on the Poor’: Congress Stands Firm
Congress leaders have framed the renaming as an attack on the rights of rural workers and the poor. MP Ranjeet Ranjan said the BJP previously targeted Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and is now turning against Mahatma Gandhi.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the government’s priorities, saying Parliament is being stalled over symbolic changes instead of addressing pressing national issues.
“The country is watching. Public time and money are being wasted, while real issues go undiscussed,” she said.
With tempers rising and political stakes high, the MNREGA renaming debate is set to become one of the most contentious flashpoints of the ongoing Winter Session.