Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the Opposition for stating expenditure on food security bill as “wastage” of financial resources.
At a function of handing over ownership rights to the residents of 45 resettlement colonies on Tuesday he said the legislation is aimed at removing hunger from the country by giving people right to food which is part of a series of landmark initiatives of the UPA government such as Right to Information Act and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
“Is providing food to people called wastage of money? The Opposition says it is a wastage of money. We want the poor people of the country to stand on their feet,” Mr Gandhi said.
Some parties, including UPA’s outside supporter Samajwadi Party, had criticised the bill saying it will put additional financial burden on states. Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, her cabinet colleagues, her son and M P from east Delhi Sandeep Dikshit and PCC chief J P Aggarwal were also present at the function. Ms Dikshit again termed Mr Gandhi as the future of the nation and said she will approach him to quash the multiplicity of authorities in Delhi once he becomes the Prime Minister of India.
The ambitious Food Security Bill, expected to benefit 82 crore people in the country, is seen as a “game changer” by the Congress as it prepares to face general elections due in May 2014. The BJP had termed the bill as a “gimmick” with an eye on elections though the party supported it.
A section of the corporate world has also slammed the bill saying it will increase the financial burden on the government when the economy was going through a difficult phase.
“We are giving rights to people. Rights means guarantee of development. After the food security legislation, no body in the country will remain hungry,” Mr Gandhi said, defending the food security scheme.