Senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi are set to visit Andhra Pradesh as part of a major political protest against the Centre’s recent decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA).
The Congress strongly opposes the renaming, arguing that it erases Mahatma Gandhi’s identity and undermines the original spirit of the scheme. Party leaders stress that this is not just a change of name but an attempt to dilute the values of Gandhi from a landmark welfare initiative that has supported rural communities for decades.
The protest meeting will take place on February 2 at Bandlapalli village in the Singanamala constituency of Anantapur district—a location of symbolic importance. On February 2, 2006, the same village witnessed the launch of the employment guarantee scheme in Andhra Pradesh by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, during the tenure of late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
Congress leaders highlight that MNREGA has provided livelihoods to crores of rural families over the past 20 years. By choosing the same date and venue, the party aims to send a strong message against the Centre’s decision and remind the public of the scheme’s original intent.
During the visit, the Congress leadership is also expected to outline its future strategy and protest plans, making this event a politically significant moment for Andhra Pradesh.
Maruthi’s Raja Saab Comment Sparks Fan Backlash Ahead of Sankranthi 2026
Director Maruthi is leaving no stone unturned in promoting his upcoming directorial, The Raja Saab, starring Superstar Prabhas, one of the most anticipated films of the Sankranthi 2026 season. While he aims to project the film as a grand-scale project with a strong narrative, some of his recent comments during an interview have sparked debate among fans and cinephiles.
Maruthi revealed that The Raja Saab took three years to complete because he had to craft a “big story” to match Prabhas’ larger-than-life image. “If there is any other star involved, you could have wrapped the film like a parcel (Potlam). But with Prabhas, we needed a solid story, and that takes time,” he said, highlighting the effort invested in creating a blockbuster-ready narrative.
However, the statement did not sit well with many fans, who felt it was unnecessarily dismissive of other actors and filmmakers. Critics noted that cinema is a collaborative art, and success relies heavily on content, not just star power. Social media quickly turned Maruthi’s comments into memes, questioning both the remark and his own filmography.
While The Raja Saab promises to be a visual spectacle and a major release for the Sankranthi season, Maruthi’s words serve as a reminder that promotion needs to balance confidence with respect for the wider industry.