The BJP on Friday blamed UPA for the non-passage of Food Security Bill and suggested it to suitably amend the draft legislation on lines of similar provision that is in force in Chhattisgarh. BJP's response to UPA's dream Bill came a day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi held opposition responsible for the deadlock over the proposed legislation.
The BJP also justified its decision to disrupt the second half of the Budget Session and said such a situation could have been avoided if resignation of PK Bansal and Ashwani Kumar had been taken on time.
“Congress is in the habit of blaming BJP. Gandhi's charge is absolute rubbish. Instead of blaming others, Congress should blame itself for non-passage of Food Security Bill,” BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.
The BJP leader taunted Congress saying if it had any compassion for the poor, then it should emulate the Food Security Act of Chhattisgarh. “It is the callous and casual approach of Congress towards the poor which has resulted in a half-hearted Bill,” Javadekar alleged.
BJP claimed the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act is more inclusive as it provides foodgrains to 90 per cent of the population unlike the Centre's Bill which covers only 67 per cent. Even the foodgrains provided by Chhattisgarh is more than what the Centre will provide.