Shimla, Dec. 30 -- Himachal Pradesh Congress leaders, led by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Monday held a protest near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at The historic Ridge in Shimla, against what they termed as the Union government's move to scrapping the MGNREGA scheme.

The leaders sat in silent protest, holding placards, to register their opposition to the changes in the rural employment guarantee programme.

Addressing the gathering, the CM said that scrapping MGNREGA is a severe blow to the rural poor. "Earlier, the scheme was demand-driven. Works were planned on the basis of demands raised by panchayats, panchayat representatives, gram sabhas and local people. Now that system has been terminated," he added.

Sukhu alleged t...