Shimla, Dec. 22 -- The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday staged a protest and dharna against the Central government, alleging that the move to change the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and alter its framework would weaken the scheme's original objectives.

The demonstration was held on the call of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) after the passage of the Viksit Bharat-G-RAM-G-G related bill in Parliament. The protest was led by Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Vinay Kumar and marked his first major public programme after assuming charge of the state unit.

Speaking to ANI after the protest, Vinay Kumar said the Congress strongly opposed what he described ...