Mamata to Rename Bengal’s Karmashree After Mahatma Gandhi Amid MGNREGA Row
CM says removal of Gandhiji’s name from rural jobs scheme is shameful; BJP hits back
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 19th Dec: Amid a growing political storm over the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that her government will bring a bill to rename the state’s Karmashree job scheme after Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking at a business conclave in Kolkata, Banerjee strongly criticised the Centre’s move to replace MGNREGA, saying it amounted to disrespecting the Father of the Nation.
“The removal of Gandhiji’s name fills me with deep shame. A Bill has been introduced that removes the name of Mahatma Gandhi from MGNREGA. Are we now forgetting even the Father of the Nation?” she said.
Declaring the state’s response, Banerjee added, “We have therefore decided to rename our Karmashree scheme after Mahatma Gandhi. We seek nothing except respect. And if some do not know how to honour Mahatma Gandhi, we will demonstrate what true respect means.”
Sources in the West Bengal government said the Chief Minister is expected to place the proposal before the state Cabinet in its upcoming meeting at the secretariat. Karmashree is the state government’s flagship employment guarantee scheme.
The BJP, however, dismissed Banerjee’s remarks as political posturing. West Bengal BJP chief and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said corruption under the Trinamool Congress regime had taken place earlier in schemes named after Gandhi as well.
“Loot of money from central funds was done even when Gandhi ji’s name was used earlier during the Trinamool Congress regime,” Bhattacharya said. He added that Gandhi was deeply influenced by Lord Ram and claimed that the BJP had given “true respect” to Mahatma Gandhi. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts have brought Gandhi’s dream closer to reality,” he said.
The announcement adds another layer to the Centre-state political clash over rural employment schemes, with the renaming of MGNREGA emerging as a major flashpoint ahead of upcoming political battles.
