Patiala, February 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Congress today staged a massive rally under the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ at Nabha. The party also staged a separate protest in Patiala against the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Senior party leaders including former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel and the Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the BJP government at the centre was the biggest enemy of the farmers, the poor and the labourers. They said, the change of the MGNREGA law was proof of that.
During the protest demonstration against the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the party leaders said that the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Bhagwant Singh Mann had completely failed in safeguarding the lives of people in the state. They referred to the frequent incidents of killing of people at the hands of the criminals and gangsters with the government being clueless.
Addressing the rally Bhupesh Baghel, congratulated the Punjab Congress for taking the lead in agitation against the changing of the MGNREGA. He said the fight was to safeguard the rights of labourers and the Constitution.
Accusing the BJP of fiddling with the Constitution, he alleged that the BJP sought to change the Constitution after aiming for “400-plus seats” in the Lok Sabha elections and accused it of undermining welfare schemes.
Baghel alleged that the BJP was intimidating Opposition leaders through central agencies such as the CBI, ED and Income Tax Department, but said Congress leaders would not be cowed down. He referred to past incarcerations of party leaders and vowed continued resistance.
Alleging that Modi had “surrendered” farmers’ interests by allowing agricultural and dairy imports under international agreements, Baghel said the Congress would oppose any move detrimental to the farming community. He said, Modi was the first Prime Minister in India’s history who had allowed the import of dairy and agriculture products which will spell doom for the farmers of the country.
He reiterated that the party would restore MGNREGA if it forms the government in Punjab in 2027 and at the Centre in 2029, asserting that the ongoing struggle was for farmers and labourers, while accusing the BJP of working for corporate interests.
Accusing the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of being the B-team of the BJP, Baghel questioned his silence against the changing of the MGNREGA.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring described MGNREGA as the “first law that granted the right to work” and credited former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for introducing it to prevent “anarchy and lawlessness” arising from hunger and unemployment.
He accused the BJP of selling off public assets and favouring corporates, alleging that “80 per cent of the country’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of two individuals” while the poor are being deprived of employment opportunities.
Warring questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claims of extending work guarantees and doubling farmers’ incomes, asking whether workers had even received the mandated 100 days of employment under MGNREGA. “If they did not get 50 days, how will they get 125 days?” he asked, terming the announcements as “bluff”.
Maintaining that the Centre could have increased daily wages to Rs 700 if intentions were clear, he said the Congress would continue its agitation until the scheme is fully restored.
Targeting the AAP government in Punjab, Warring said it had failed to deliver on its promise of Rs 1,000 monthly assistance to women, asking Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to clear arrears of Rs 60,000. He urged voters to “take their money but not vote for them”, accusing AAP of making false promises.
On the issue of drug abuse, Warring said while the Punjab Governor’s anti-drug march was welcome, the flow of narcotics from across the border raised questions about the Centre’s role. He noted that border security falls under the BSF and the Union Home Ministry, holding both the state and central governments responsible for failing to curb the menace.
Suggesting that the Punjab Governor was trying to bring the BJP and the Akali Dal together, he said, this will hardly make any difference to the Congress which was bound to defeat them all, be it the Akali-BJP alliance or the AAP.
Among those present included local MP Dharamvir Gandhi, former minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Randeep Nabha, Gurkirat Kotli, Aruna Chaudhar, PYC president Mohit Mohindra, Capt Sandeep Sandhu and others.
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