Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DCM DK Shivakumar during a meeting with senior Congress leaders held at Hotel Ashoka on the AICC’s nationwide “Save NREGA” mass movement to protect the employment rights of rural workers.
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TH
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday called on Union Minister Pralhad Joshi for a public debate on MGNREGA and the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB G RAM G) scheme.
Responding to Pralhad Joshi’s allegations of irregularities worth Rs 11 lakh crore in MGNREGA during the UPA tenure, Shivakumar invited the State BJP President, Leader of Opposition, or Union Ministers to participate in the debate.
The DCM also announced that the government is planning a two-day special session to discuss MGNREGA. “We will discuss this comprehensively during the special session. The BJP is trying to campaign for the VG GRAMA legislation. Let them defend their bill, and we will highlight its disadvantages,” Shivakumar said.
He added, “We will soon convene a meeting of Block and Booth presidents and defeated candidates. This new legislation is harmful to the country, and we will demand its scrapping. Protests will be held at the gram panchayat, taluk, and district levels. We will conduct a 5-km padayatra in each taluk from January 26 to February 2, with national leaders participating.”
He also noted that ministers will hold press conferences at district headquarters for three days, and awareness campaigns will be conducted in each panchayat. “By removing MGNREGA, the Centre has taken away employment opportunities worth Rs 6,000 crore,” he stated.
Published on January 9, 2026
