Bengaluru, Jan. 9 -- Karnataka Minister HK Patil condemned the decision to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by the central government, and described it as "draconian".

Speaking to reporters, he said," It is unfortunate that the government of India has repealed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. This is one of the draconian decisions the Government of India has made, which is to repeal MGNREGA.

MGNREGA was giving the right to work to the people, but the central government has snatched that right from people, particularly those agricultural labourers, labourers who were dwelling in rural areas."

Earlier, former Chhattisgarh CM and Punjab Congress in charge Bhupesh Baghel...