CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) on Sunday held a one-day hunger strike protest in Egmore against the Union government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, with its president K Selvaperunthagai announcing that the party would raise the issue in the Assembly on January 20.

The protest was organised near the Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore and was led by Selvaperunthagai, with the participation of senior Congress leaders, party cadres and supporters. The agitation formed part of the Congress party's nationwide protest opposing what it described as the Centre's move to remove Mahatma Gandhi's name from one of India's flagship rural employment schemes.

Addressing the gathering, Selvaperunthagai said the Congress would not remain silent over what he termed as an attempt to dilute the identity and spirit of the MGNREGA. He announced that Congress legislators would take up the issue during the upcoming Assembly session on January 20 and seek a strong resolution condemning the Centre's decision.

He said MGNREGA has been a lifeline for crores of rural families and that any change in its name or structure would create confusion among beneficiaries and weaken its implementation. Selvaperunthagai also accused the BJP-led Union government of systematically reducing allocations and delaying wage payments under the scheme.