The Karnataka Legislative Assembly witnessed dramatic scenes on Monday when Leader of Opposition R. Ashok launched a blistering attack on the Congress over its protest against the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the MGNREGA scheme. Holding up a nearly two-metre-long document inside the House, Ashok declared that the Congress had turned governance into a family branding exercise and read out what he called a shocking list of “454 names in fake Gandhis names”—schemes, roads, airports and institutions named after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
The controversy erupted after Congress members objected to the Union government’s decision to drop the word “Mahatma Gandhi” from the rural employment scheme. Congress legislators accused the BJP of insulting the Father of the Nation and staged protests inside and outside the House. However, Ashok turned the tables on the ruling party with a counter-offensive that left the treasury benches rattled.
Speaking during the debate on the Governor’s address, Ashok questioned the moral authority of Congress to speak on Mahatma Gandhi. “You are shedding crocodile tears about Mahatma Gandhi. But during your decades in power, how many schemes did you name after him? Instead, you filled the entire country with projects named only after one family. I have the proof,” he said.
He then unfolded a massive printed list and announced that it contained details of 454 government schemes, buildings, educational institutions, airports, roads and public assets named after Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. “This is not a list – this is evidence of how one family hijacked India’s history and resources,” Ashok thundered.
Targeting the Congress leadership directly, Ashok said the party had cleverly used only the surname “Gandhi” for political advantage. “The full name of Mahatma Gandhi is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. But Congress ignored his first two names and only picked ‘Gandhi’. Out of this strategy, several fake Gandhis were created. Now you want to claim monopoly over his legacy,” he charged.
Reading from the document, Ashok listed examples of Rajiv Gandhi National Parks, Indira Gandhi Airports, Nehru Yuva Kendras, Indira Canteens, Rajiv Gandhi Universities, Indira Gandhi Medical Colleges and hundreds of other programmes. “From canals to stadiums, from health schemes to research centres – everywhere you only see Nehru-Gandhi family names. Is this democracy or dynasty worship?” he asked.
The BJP leader particularly questioned why historical places were renamed after Congress leaders. “Nagarahole Reserve Forest was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. What was his contribution to that forest? Bengaluru’s Gandhinagar ward was renamed Nehru ward. Why this obsession?” he asked, as BJP MLAs thumped their desks.
Former minister Suresh Kumar supported Ashok and pointed out several other instances where Congress governments had erased traditional names and replaced them with Nehru-Gandhi family titles. “Even public institutions with local historical importance were not spared,” he said.
As Ashok continued his attack, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh attempted to counter him by reading out a list of schemes named after Mahatma Gandhi. But BJP members objected loudly, saying Congress was trying to divert attention from the core issue.
Ashok further alleged that Congress had ideological hatred towards Indian cultural symbols. “You don’t like the name Ram. You changed Ramanagara district to Bengaluru South. You object to ‘VB-G Ram-G’. But Mahatma Gandhi himself sang Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram. Why do you hate what he loved?” Ashok asked.
He also accused the state government of constantly confronting the Centre for political reasons. “Karnataka has passed 18 resolutions against the Union government. No other state has done this. Now you want a 19th resolution on this issue as well. But development happens only when both governments cooperate,” he said.
Congress leaders strongly protested Ashok’s remarks, insisting that removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from MGNREGA was an insult to national values. They accused the BJP of trying to rewrite history and erase Gandhi’s legacy.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior Congress ministers maintained that the party would continue to oppose the name change and would fight politically until it was reversed. “This is not just a name. It represents the spirit of rural India,” Congress members argued.
