The scam-tainted UPA on Monday pushed its “game changer” Food Security Bill in lok Sabha in a din triggering a strong reaction from the Opposition. Food Minister KV Thomas introduced the Bill in the lower House when several Opposition MPs were in the Well of the House raising slogans against the Prime Minister, law Minister and Railway Minister besides protesting against the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case.
Congress MP Girija Vyas, who was in the Chair, caught the Opposition off-guard when she allowed a debate on the Bill. The ploy did not work as the entire Opposition created an uproar over the manner in which such a serious Bill had been undertaken. In the din, Sanjay Nirupam (Congress) and Dinesh Trivedi (TMC) spoke, while some ruling MPs tabled copies of their speech.
“loktantra ki hatyari sarkar, nahin chalegi” chanted BJP members. who were joined by left members in denouncing the Congress-led coalition. Agitated BJP members also started thumping the side table of the Presiding Officer to draw the attention of Vyas who chose to ignore their protest. “Sonia Gandhi ki dadagiri nahi chalegi” chanted another group of BJP MPs led by Ganesh Singh. Sonia was seen responding to Singh but she could not be heard in the commotion.
“This Government is not only corrupt but is also an oppressive one. Outside Parliament, it indulges in corruption and inside Parliament, it acts as an oppressor. It tried to get the Food Security Bill passed in the lok Sabha thinking this will divert the country’s attention from their corruption. This is condemnable,” Swaraj told reporters.
She alleged that the Government was compelling the Opposition to behave in “unreasonable manner”. She said the BJP wanted this legislation and the land Acquisition Bill to be passed, but this could be possible only if Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ashwini Kumar quit.
“When the atmosphere is so tense inside the House and members are protesting and voicing their demand for the resignation of some Ministers, an attempt to pass such Bills is improper,” Swaraj said.
The UPA’s former ally, the DMK, also expressed “serious reservations” over taking up the Bill for discussion amidst the uproar. The DMK’s Parliamentary Party leader TR Baalu said his party was opposed to the passage of the Bill in its present form and without any discussion.
He said the Bill should be placed before Parliament for proper discussion and then only put to vote. The timing of the Bill is crucial for the Congress on two counts. Bogged down by corruption charges against top Ministers, the Congress wanted to end the ‘spell of gloom’ by pushing through a ‘populist’ decision. Second, with the national election less than a year from now, Congress wanted all its ‘game changers’ — including Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme — to be executed in advance.
The Food Security Bill, targeting both rural and urban poor, has passed through several troubled phases. It even saw the Government’s finance arms and the Agriculture Ministry objecting to such massive spending on the pet project of Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Committee.
At the coverage and entitlement now proposed, the total estimated annual food grains requirement would be 612.3 lakh tons. The corresponding estimated food subsidy for implementing the scheme — at 2013-14 costs — would be about Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
last week, the amendments to the Food Bill, which was originally introduced in Parliament in December, 2011, was moved in the lok Sabha but discussions on it could not take place due to disruption of proceedings on several issues, including Coalgate.