New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday strongly criticised the Tamil Nadu Assembly for adopting a resolution urging the Union government to ensure the right to work in rural areas in accordance with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned the constitutional validity of the Assembly’s move, alleging that it amounted to defiance of an Act passed by Parliament.

“I would like to ask: if a Bill has been duly passed by the Parliament of India and the Supreme Court has neither objected to it nor stayed it, does any State Assembly have the constitutional authority to pass a resolution against it?” he said at a press briefing.

Drawing an analogy, Trivedi further asked whether local bodies could similarly disregard laws enacted by state legislatures.

“I also want to ask the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala: if your state Assembly passes any legislation, does any Zila Panchayat or Municipal Corporation have the authority to declare that it will not follow that law? If the answer is no, then the same principle applies here as well,” he said.

Trivedi targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Opposition of selectively invoking constitutional values. “I would like to ask Rahul Gandhi whether the Constitution is in danger or not when an Act of Parliament is being openly defied by State Assemblies in a manner that is brazenly inconsistent with the Constitution and its spirit,” he said.

“Our forefathers, from Dr Rajendra Prasad to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, clearly stated that any law passed by Parliament is binding on all citizens of India. So my counter-question is this: Is the Constitution not in danger now? Or is it something they merely keep in their pocket and use for political convenience?” he asked.

The resolution, moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and adopted by the House, called on the Centre to guarantee allocations under the MGNREGS at levels no lower than those of previous years.

It also sought the continued protection of the livelihoods of vulnerable sections, including women, persons with disabilities, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, through assured funding and social security under the scheme.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution also opposed the Centre’s proposed method of allocating funds for the scheme on a discretionary basis linked to assessments and urged the Union government to abandon the new procedure. It instead demanded continuation of the existing system under MGNREGS, where allocations are made in accordance with actual demand for employment.

The Centre’s approach, the resolution warned, could undermine the legal guarantee of work under the Act and adversely affect rural livelihoods, particularly among economically and socially marginalised communities.

–IANS

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