All options open on Food Bill: Nath
The UPA coordination committee meeting held here on Monday evening did not discuss the Food Security Bill and calling a special session of Parliament in July for its passage. Instead, the Maoists challenge dominated the meeting against the backdrop of the Bastar massacre in which 27 people, including three prominent Congress leaders, killed a few days ago.
The Congress and its ministers are giving conflicting signals on the issue of passage of the Food Security Bill after realising that the political parties are divided on its current form.
After the meeting, parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath told reporters, “All the options on the Food Security Bill on how to go ahead with it are still open. We will be considering that further in the days to come.”
The Congress wanting to draw electoral mileage from it, sending signals that it can call a special session of the Parliament for its passage or bring an Ordinance. This was clearly indicated after its core group meeting held a couple of days ago. But on Monday, its priority was on how to check Maoists.
Meanwhile, the SP on Monday joined the Left parties in expressing reservation over the Food Security Bill, saying it is “anti-farmer” and will deprive them from getting their proper dues.
“The day the bill is implemented, farmers will not get proper dues for their produce,” SP leader Naresh Agarwal said. He apprehended that the government was looking towards mid-term elections by bringing this legislation.
“SP opposes this bill as it is anti-farmer,” he told NDTV. Opposing the bill in its present form, Left parties demanded the amendments moved by them should be “seriously” considered by the government.
Noting that the first priority of the government should be introduction of the bill in the Monsoon session, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat said, “There should be discussions on it and important amendments moved by the party should be seriously considered.”
CPI leader D. Raja also strongly opposed the idea of bringing an ordinance on food security and said the legislation in its present form is “defective and unacceptable”.
“... The Food Security Bill framed by the UPA government is unacceptable in its existing form as it suffers from several defects and a comprehensive and thorough debate is essential before it is considered for passage in Parliament,” Mr Raja said.
Post new comment