Congress, CPI (M) announce four-hour symbolic fast in Kailashahar protesting Fatikroy incident and renaming of MGNREGA

Kailashahar witnessed separate press conferences by the Congress and CPI(M) parties protesting the recent incident in the Shimultala area of the Fatikroy Assembly constituency and strongly opposing the renaming of the MGNREGA scheme. Both parties announced a four-hour symbolic fast as part of their protest.

The Congress party strongly objected to the renaming of the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme, which was introduced during the Congress-led central government to ensure employment and financial security for rural people. Congress leaders alleged that changing the name of the scheme undermines its core philosophy and legal rights. They said MGNREGA is not merely a project but a fundamental right of rural citizens, and that renaming it for political reasons is an attempt to dilute its importance and impact, thereby depriving rural workers of their rightful benefits.

A press conference was held on Saturday afternoon at the Kailashahar District Congress Bhavan, attended by local MLA and Congress Legislature Party Leader Birajit Sinha, District Congress President Mohammad Badruzzaman, and party leaders Rudrendu Bhattacharjee, Runu Mia, and others. They announced that, as part of a nationwide programme, the Unakoti District Congress would observe a four-hour symbolic fast from 12 noon onwards at the Kailashahar District Congress office premises. The Congress demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision to rename MGNREGA and full restoration of all benefits to rural people under the scheme.

Addressing the Fatikroy incident, MLA Birajit Sinha alleged that since the BJP came to power, repeated attacks have taken place on innocent minorities and their religious institutions. He said he had spoken to the Director General of Police and demanded a proper investigation and strict punishment for those responsible.

On the same day, CPI(M) Unakoti District Committee leaders also held a separate press conference at their party office in Kailashahar. Present were former state minister Tapan Chakraborty, CPI(M) Unakoti District Secretary Krishnendu Chowdhury, and party leaders Bishwarup Goswami, Anjan Roy, Inus Mia Khadim, Koyes Mia, and others.

Former minister Tapan Chakraborty stated that when Dr. Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, the Left parties had 63 Members of Parliament, and under their pressure the central government had introduced the MGNREGA scheme to ensure employment for the working poor. He alleged that the present central government has renamed MGNREGA to “VB Ramji” and has, in effect, snatched away the livelihood of the poor through this move, which he described as unethical and forcibly imposed.

He further said that under the new law, rural poor people no longer have any guarantee of employment. He alleged that the new legislation was introduced without proper discussion in Parliament. He also criticised the revised funding pattern, under which the Centre will bear 60 percent of the cost while states will have to bear 40 percent. He questioned how small states like Tripura would manage such financial burden, accusing the BJP-led central government of deliberately weakening poor people.

Chakraborty further recalled that after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, he had repeatedly spoken in several meetings about scrapping MGNREGA, and alleged that the present move was a step towards fulfilling that intention. He said the Left parties would not remain silent and would organize statewide protests through their four thousand branches by holding meetings and public gatherings.

He also strongly condemned the incident on Saturday morning in the Shimultala area of the Fatikroy Assembly constituency, where minority homes, a mosque, and vehicles were allegedly set on fire. He demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and exemplary punishment. He sharply criticized local minister Sudhangshu Das and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha over the incident.