Chennai, Jan 22 (IANS) A sharp political confrontation erupted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address on Thursday, with the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK trading charges over the implementation and future of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The controversy was triggered when AIADMK MLA Thangamani alleged that the Governor’s address appeared to indicate a move to discontinue the rural employment scheme. He recalled that assurances had earlier been given about extending employment under the scheme from 100 days to 125 days, but claimed that these promises were misleading.

Tharamani accused the Centre of planning to dilute the programme and alleged that the DMK government was supporting this move. He also noted that the Centre had reduced its funding share and removed Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme.

Responding to the charges, Rural Development Minister I. Periyasamy said the scheme was being systematically weakened by the BJP-led Union government. He recalled that when the programme was launched and implemented, the Centre bore the entire cost, but has now shifted to a 60:40 funding pattern.

“The Centre has diluted the scheme and even removed Gandhi’s name. What protest did the AIADMK make against this?” he asked, targeting the opposition party.

Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami intervened, accusing the DMK of failing to honour its own election promise of increasing employment under the scheme to 150 days.

He said the AIADMK had welcomed the Centre’s move to raise the number of workdays to 125 and had strongly objected to any attempt to rename the scheme. “People voted based on your promises. It is your duty to fulfil them,” he told the ruling party.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin responded by stating that while the demand for increasing workdays was valid, the authority to implement such a change rested with the Union government.

“We are not in power at the Centre. How can the State do this on its own? Your ally, the BJP, is ruling at the Centre. You must raise your voice there,” he said.

The debate intensified when Minister Periyasamy questioned whether the AIADMK’s MPs had ever stalled Parliament even for a day to oppose the funding cut. He recalled that the DMK had once forced Parliament to be disrupted for 22 days over the Cauvery water dispute.

Another minister alleged that the AIADMK had blocked Assembly proceedings to shield the BJP government.

As tempers flared, Thangamani reiterated that the AIADMK had promised to increase employment to 150 days during its tenure.

–IANS

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