New Delhi, 30 June

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday alleged that the Centre has not released Rs 700 crore worth of pending dues under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for Karnataka.

Kharge alleged on X that the dues were mounting in other states as well, even as the government prepares to roll out the VB-G RAM G scheme from 1 July.

“According to the response presented in the Lok Sabha, Rs 17,144.13 crore was outstanding to 34 states and UTs. (As of March 2026) This includes Rs 7,846.25 crore in wage liability, meaning workers haven't received their rightful payment yet,” he charged.

Kharge added that the 60-40 sharing would cause immense burden on all states, noting that BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have also sought a review of the funding pattern as they would have to shell out Rs 20,037 crore and Rs 15,939 crore respectively for the scheme.

Meanwhile, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre urged the Centre to rename the scheme after Mahatma Gandhi, noting that it was gram panchayats who would be implementing the scheme.