The BJP on Tuesday accused the ruling Congress of dangling the “lollipop” in the name of food security to the poor ahead of lok Sabha elections. BJP president Rajnath Singh said that had the Government followed correct economic policies and ensured overall development, there would not have been any need for such a law. “The funds to sustain this scheme could have been used for creating employment in the country,” Singh said on the sidelines of a function in the national Capital.
“When the UPA came to power it said it will get the Food Security Bill passed within 100 days. But they are bringing it as a lollipop now after being in power for nine years when polls are drawing near. This is a cruel joke on the poor. Whenever polls are near, the Congress comes up with such lollipops,” Singh said.
He alleged that more than 80 crore people of the country still need food security due to the wrong policies and corruption of the Congress which has ruled the country for 55 years since Independence.
Singh said now three per cent of the GDP will be spent on food security if the Ordinance is approved. “One per cent of GDP can help create employment for 35 lakh youth. So this amount could have generated employment for nearly 1.25 lakh youth,” Singh said.
The BJP wants changes to be made in the Food Security Bill and has demanded that the issue be debated in Parliament before it is passed. It has opposed the Ordinance route taken by the Government. However, the BJP is likely to vote for the Food Bill when it comes up in Parliament.
Singh also referred to terror attack on the Bodh Gaya temple and said though there have been several attacks from terrorists and Maoists, the Government is not taking the issue seriously. Without naming the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, the BJP president said the Government is instead engaged in creating a wedge between IB and CBI and other security agencies.
At the programme, Singh welcomed two former Congress leaders Ramesh Kaushik and Naresh Kaushik as well as former Haryana Vikas Party leader Jitendra Singh Kaka into the BJP fold. Ramesh Kaushik has been Minister twice in Haryana. He hails from Sonepat. Naresh Kaushik is from Bahadurgarh in Haryana while Jitendra Kaka is from Kurukshetra region of the State.