Shekhawat launches a major attack on the opposition for opposing the ‘Viksit Bharat’ scheme
Congress looted MNREGA by turning it into a cash cow
The Sunday Mail
Jodhpur. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, participated in several programs here and expressed his views, starting with MNREGA. Shekhawat launched a scathing attack on the opposition for spreading misinformation regarding the transformation of MNREGA and the new ‘Viksit Bharat’ scheme. Shekhawat clearly stated that Congress and its allies have looted MNREGA for decades by turning it into a “cash cow” of corruption, but now the transparency of the Modi government is causing discomfort to these corrupt individuals.
Speaking to reporters at the Circuit House on Sunday, Union Minister Shekhawat, while referring to historical records, said that those who are now advocating for this scheme, their own leaders had confirmed its failure. When Sharad Pawar was the country’s Agriculture Minister for 10 years, he repeatedly expressed concern in Parliament and on public platforms that MNREGA had become a major obstacle for the agricultural sector. He had demanded its rectification and amendment. Shekhawat said that Congress leader Jairam Ramesh himself had admitted on the floor of the Lok Sabha that MNREGA had been reduced to merely digging and filling pits, and no ‘asset creation’ was happening. Taking a dig at former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Shekhawat said that when the 14th Finance Commission increased the states’ share from 32 percent to 42 percent (effectively 47 percent), our own leader from Jodhpur was also a stakeholder in that demand. The states were given an additional 15 percent of the money on the condition that they would use it for rural development, but the Gehlot government squandered that money on appeasement and freebies instead of development. Taking a jibe at Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Shekhawat said that both of them have questioned the corruption in MNREGA several times. He himself had admitted that this scheme was a means of plunder in the states, but today, when we are bringing technology and transparency through ‘G-Ram-Ji’, he is finding fault with it.
The guarantee has not been diluted, but strengthened.
Shekhawat responded to the opponents with figures, saying that only ₹1 lakh crore was spent during the 10 years of the UPA government, while the Modi government has invested more than ₹4 lakh crore in 11 years. In the new scheme, the employment guarantee has been increased from 100 days to 125 days. If payment is not made on time, the government will have to pay with a penalty. If the government fails to provide employment, the worker will compulsorily receive compensation. The focus is on water conservation (Amrit Sarovar), rural infrastructure, livelihood enhancement, and natural disaster mitigation.
Why the opposition in the name of Ram?
Shekhawat asked why those who denied the existence of Lord Ram are now objecting to the name ‘G Ram Ji’. He said that this scheme is not just about changing the name, but a means of developing villages. The public will soon give the right lesson to those who are opposing this alignment of development. The game of political middlemen is bound to end with G Ram Ji.
In the age of mobile phones, let the power of women take charge of the new generation: Shekhawat
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that our ancestors have made sacrifices for thousands of years to preserve India’s great Sanatan culture, but in today’s era, preserving our roots amidst ideological pollution and modern resources is the biggest challenge. Therefore, in the age of mobile phones, let the power of women take charge of the new generation. On Sunday, while paying homage to the Vyas Peeth on the auspicious occasion of Shri Karni Katha, Union Minister Shekhawat said that whenever it comes to protecting India’s civilization, we remember great men like Bappa Rawal, Maharana Raj Singh, Rao Chandrasen, Durgadas Rathore, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and Chhatrasal Bundela. It was the maternal power that nurtured these heroes, instilling in them, even while rocking them in their cradles, the values of sacrificing their lives for their country and religion.
Private schools and the government are complementary: Shekhawat
At the ‘School Education Family’ conference, Shekhawat described private educational institutions as a major pillar of nation-building. Shekhawat clarified that government and private schools are not adversaries, but rather complementary. He assured that the double-engine government is fully committed to resolving the problems faced by private schools. Union Minister Shekhawat shared a grand vision, referring to the country’s growing economy. He said that India is currently the world’s fourth-largest economy and is soon to become the third largest. By 2047, India’s economy is projected to reach $32 trillion. A developed India will be built not only on economic figures but also on quality human resources. Private schools have a responsibility to provide children with more than just textbook education; they must prepare them to be conscientious and responsible citizens. Shekhawat praised Education Minister Madan Dilawar’s ‘revolutionary’ and ‘principled’ personality. He said that the dedication with which Madan ji speaks about the role of teachers reflects the DNA of a teacher and social reformer within him.
