Bengaluru, Dec. 17 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led Central government over its reported move to change the name and structure of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), alleging that the decision reflects "hatred towards the poor and Mahatma Gandhi" and undermines federal principles.

In a strongly worded statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Siddaramaiah said the rural employment scheme, introduced by the UPA government two decades ago, played a crucial role in reducing unemployment and poverty in rural India. He asserted that the scheme, which legally guarantees employment, has earned recognition from economic experts in India and abro...