TN Congress Chief Accuses BJP of Undermining MGNREGA, Raises Funding Ratio Changes
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president B. Manickam Tagore on Wednesday criticised state BJP president Nainar Nagendran for raising the National Herald case while allegedly supporting central government moves that Tagore described as destructive to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). Tagore specifically pointed to changes in the Centre-State financial ratio for the scheme and the ongoing Mekedatu dam issue.
In a statement, Tagore questioned Nagendran about alleged misappropriation of donation funds at the Ayodhya Ram temple and what he termed financial injustice to Tamil Nadu. He highlighted that the central government changed the MGNREGA funding ratio from 90:10 (Centre:State) to 60:40, which he claimed imposes an additional burden of ₹5,000 crore on Tamil Nadu while reducing benefits for rural poor. Tagore used strong language, equating the change to 'killing Mahatma Gandhi for the second time'.
He also referenced a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report alleging daily theft of ₹6-8 lakh from the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust, and questioned the BJP's claim of being corruption-free. Tagore further cited Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports that allegedly exposed irregularities in the Dwarka Expressway project and Ayushman Bharat scheme.
On the Mekedatu issue, Tagore said it was 'amusing' that Nagendran, leading a party that has been rejected by Tamil Nadu voters, would mock the TNCC's stand. He noted that whether Karnataka is ruled by Congress or BJP, Tamil Nadu's concerns over the Cauvery water dispute have not been adequately addressed. He reminded that when BJP was in power in Karnataka, Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai repeatedly declared their intention to build the Mekedatu dam, and Yediyurappa even protested at the Tamil Nadu border demanding its construction.
The MGNREGA scheme, launched in 2005, guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households. The funding ratio change, announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, shifts a larger share of costs to states, which critics argue will strain state finances and reduce worker entitlements. The Mekedatu dam project, proposed by Karnataka on the Cauvery river, has been opposed by Tamil Nadu, which fears it will affect its water share.
Tagore's remarks come amid ongoing political exchanges between Congress and BJP in Tamil Nadu, with both parties trading accusations on various issues.
