Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister I. Periyasamy has criticised the Union Government, accusing it of trying to weaken a key rural employment programme.  He said the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is being effectively ended by changes the Centre plans to introduce.

Periyasamy claimed that the Union government is pushing amendments that would reduce the number of guaranteed workdays and change how wages are paid, hurting rural workers who depend on the scheme for livelihood. He voiced strong objections, saying such moves would go against the interests of Tamil Nadu’s people.

The minister also warned that the people of Tamil Nadu would reject the BJP and its allies in the next state assembly elections for ignoring the state’s needs and “neglecting” important welfare programmes.