Tripura, 01 Feb 2026: Following the nationwide “Save MGNREGA” movement launched by the All India Congress Committee, the Indian National Congress on Saturday organised a three-hour mass sit-in (dharna) at Pechartal Bazaar in Unakoti district of Tripura.
Addressing the gathering, Congress leaders called upon the people to raise their voices against what they described as attempts to dilute or abolish the MGNREGA scheme, inspired by the principles of truth and non-violence propagated by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. As part of the awareness drive, Congress workers also distributed leaflets among the public.
Prominent leaders present at the programme included North District Congress President Dik Bijoy Chakraborty, Pradesh Congress Secretary Satyaban Das, Dharmanagar District Youth Congress Secretary Zakir Hossain, Yubraj Nagar Block Youth Congress President Saifuddin, Pechartal Block Congress President Pradosh Dewan, along with leaders and workers from various wings of the Congress party.
While speaking to the media, Congress leaders stated that the main objective of the three-hour sit-in at Pechartal was to strengthen the nationwide “Save MGNREGA” agitation. They said that after the sit-in, Congress workers reached out to small traders and members of civil society in the Pechartal market area through leaflets, with the aim of spreading awareness about the issue in rural and semi-rural areas.
The speakers strongly criticised the central government, alleging that the MGNREGA scheme, introduced during the UPA government under then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, was one of the most successful development programmes in independent India, providing a legal and constitutional guarantee of 100 days of employment to rural households.
They alleged that the present BJP-led government is trying to replace MGNREGA with a new scheme, claiming that it lacks constitutional and legal guarantees of employment. Though the government has announced an increase from 100 to 125 days of work, Congress leaders termed it a “jumla” (false promise), pointing out that even 50 days of work were not provided in Tripura during the previous financial year, as per official statistics.
The Congress leaders appealed to the common people to understand the issue, remain vigilant, and join the movement in protest, urging them to support the Congress party in its fight to protect MGNREGA and the rights of rural workers.
