Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government for "slashing 33 per cent" Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme budget-a flagship programme started by the previous UPA regime- in 2005.

Stating that the programme started by the Congress party still supports 14.42 crore active workers, Kharge accused the Central government of "withholding" Rs 6,366 crore as MGNREGA wages to 18 States and Union Territories.