Food Bill flawed

Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Devious as always” (May 8).

It’s not surprising that the Congress tried to force the food security Bill in Parliament when it is completely cornered by corruption charges against the Government which it leads at the Centre. The party is desperate to divert the people’s attention from the scams. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has reached out to BJP leader Sushma Swaraj because she knows that, at a time when her own allies want to have a debate over the Bill, it is crucial to have the BJP on the Congress’s side. 

But, we must not forget the disaster that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has been. The Congress-led UPA had launched it with much fanfare some years ago. There is no point throwing good money at flawed schemes. The Congress must think beyond political motives and be honest and pragmatic.