Opposition MPs protest delays in MGNREGA funding

Opposition members of Parliament (MPs) protested in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour over delays in releasing funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The protest led to a brief adjournment of the House. The tension escalated after Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani mentioned alleged financial misappropriation by the West Bengal government. He claimed that irregularities were found in several projects, causing strong reactions from the opposition. MPs accused the central government of withholding funds as punishment for some states. Congress MP Adoor Prakash highlighted that workers in Kerala had not received wages for three months. He noted that ₹ 811 crore is owed to Kerala under MGNREGA. He urged the government to increase the number of workdays from 100 to 150 and to pay the pending dues. DMK MP Kanimozhi echoed this concern for Tamil Nadu, stating that ₹ 4,034 crore has been pending for five months. She asked when the government would release these funds, mentioning that Chief Minister MK Stalin had also written to Prime Minister Modi about the issue. Pemmasani responded by saying that states must first settle their own delayed wage payments before the Centre can reimburse them. He defended the distribution of funds, claiming Tamil Nadu receives substantial funds compared to its population size. Despite his explanations, the opposition continued to protest. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stepped in to emphasize that the Modi government treats all states equally. Speaker Om Birla condemned the disruption and reminded MPs that political agendas should not interfere with the proceedings of the House.