Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Feb 24: The Udupi District Congress staged a protest condemning the alleged anti-people stance of the BJP-led Central Government over the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) at Udupi DC office on Tuesday, February 24.

The protest, organized by the Udupi District Congress, accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of diluting and effectively withdrawing key provisions of the rural employment guarantee scheme, which was originally implemented by the Congress-led UPA government to support the livelihoods of the rural poor.

Party workers and leaders began a foot march from Coin Circle in Manipal to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Udupi. During the march, protesters raised slogans against the central government. Later, a memorandum addressed to the Centre was submitted through ADC Abid Gadyal.

Addressing the gathering, KPCC Campaign Committee President Vinay Kumar Sorake alleged that the Central Government was depriving the poor of their rights by altering welfare schemes meant for their benefit. He said that a movement on the lines of the farmers’ protest would be necessary to safeguard the MGNREGA scheme.

District Congress president Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, former minister Jayaprakash Hegde, Coastal Development Authority president M A Gaffoor, Urban Development Authority president Dinakar Heroor, Udupi Taluk Implementation Committee president Ramesh Kanchan, party leaders Uday Kumar Shetty, Prasad Raj Kanchan, Dinesh Hegde Molahalli and working president Kishan Hegde Kolkebail and others were present on the occasion.