After failing to get its Food Security Bill passed in Parliament on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress on Tuesday flayed the Opposition BJP for disrupting the House and not allowing its legislative agenda.
But it got a shot in the arm when BJP’s erstwhile ally, Janata Dal(United), UPA’s outside supporter Samajwadi Party announced their support to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s dream legislation with some amendments.
The Government, nevertheless, marked the occasion by introducing in the lok Sabha two news Bills named after former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv — the first all women University Indira Gandhi National University for Women Bill and the Rajiv Gandhi National Civil Aviation University Bill, which aims to establish these universities in Rae Bareli. It also introduced the Civil Aviation Authority Bill.
For the Government, the day began on a positive note with the SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav holding a meeting of his party MPs and deciding to react positively to Government’s overtures on the Bill if amendments moved by party are accepted.
“I have moved amendments, we will press for it. If the amendments are accepted then it is well, otherwise we will oppose it,” SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said.
An SP MP present at the meeting said, “We will support the Bill when it is put to vote. But the party has decided to move amendments to make the scheme better and ensure the farmers get the right price for their crops. Other amendments are on giving pulses along with rice to improve nutrition. We also want that more grains should be given per family”.
JD(U) spokesman KC Tyagi said that his party has decided to support the Bill as it will benefit 86 per cent of people in Bihar and 70 per cent in the country.
Annoyed over not being able to get Food Security Bill passed, Congress general secretary Ambika Soni lashed out at the Opposition for disrupting Parliament over various pretexts. “Food Bill is on party’s priority list as it would ensure growth for all sections of society,” she said, adding that since required funds have already been earmarked for the scheme, economic slowdown will have no impact.