Chandigarh: Jammu and Kashmir Police detained senior Congress leader and Punjab MLA Pargat Singh during a protest held near the police lines in Jammu as part of the ‘Save MGNREGA’ campaign.Confirming his detention along with other Congress leaders and workers, Pargat said the protest was peaceful and aimed at highlighting concerns related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He said the party remained committed to raising issues concerning the protection of MGNREGA and the demand for full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.According to Pargat, Congress workers marched towards Raj Bhavan carrying placards reading ‘Save MGNREGA’ and ‘Our State, Our Rights’. He said several participants, including himself, were taken into custody at Jewel Chowk.The former Punjab education minister noted that the employment guarantee scheme was launched during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and provided 100 days of wage employment to rural households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.He alleged that changes in funding patterns and administrative provisions adversely affected the scheme and placed a greater financial burden on states. The Congress, he said, launched a nationwide campaign to press for safeguarding the programme and ensuring the timely release of funds to states.
