Nirmal,Dec. 18(Abdul Majid): Following a call given by the Congress party to oppose the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), Congress leaders and activists staged a protest in front of the BJP office at the district headquarters on Thursday. The agitation was led by District Congress Committee (DCC) president Vedma Bojjupatel.

The programme began at Gandhi Park, where Congress leaders paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Later, they took out a rally to the BJP office and held a demonstration. In view of the protest, the police erected barricades and deployed heavy security at the spot.

During the agitation, BJP and Congress leaders and workers raised slogans against each other, Police intervened, pacified both sides and dispersed the Congress activists, after which the situation returned to normal.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Bojjupatel said it was unfortunate that the name of Mahatma Gandhi, who led the country to independence, was being removed from the national employment guarantee scheme. He demanded that the Centre immediately withdraw its decision, warning that the Congress would intensify its agitation if the move was not reversed.
Ex-minister Indra Karan Reddy, library chairman syed Arjumand Ali, ex counselor Imranullah , Chinnu, Arun, Ganesh, Wajid Khan and congress activists participated in large number.