BJP not opposed to proposed special session for Food Bill

Amid government's move for a special session of Parliament to pass the Food Security Bill, BJP today said it is not opposed to it even though it preferred advancement of monsoon session.

"There are media reports that government is considering the option of an Ordinance or to convene a special session of Parliament. The ordinance route for such an important legislation is not desirable. We are not opposed to a special session of Parliament," Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

However, she said, "the better option will be to prepone the Monsoon session which is anyway due in July".

BJP's support came on the eve of UPA coordination committee meeting slated for tomorrow to discuss the food bill issue. Government is also planning to convene an all-party meeting on the issue.

BJP's coming on board over the Bill is crucial for the government which could not pass it in the Budget session because of disruptions by Opposition.

Aiming at clearing the hurdles for the Food Security Bill, the Congress Core Committee yesterday decided that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath would start consultations with major parties for a special session. If that fails, the core committee decided that the government should go for an ordinance, an emergency provision to pass laws, pending Parliament's ratification.

The Bill, perceived as the welfare agenda of Congress, promises to give two-thirds of India's population a legal right to cheap food.