LS takes up Food Bill, debate thwarted

Disruptions over Telangana, Vadra land deals scuttle discussion of the bill

The much-touted Food Security Bill was taken up in Lok Sabha today but the discussion was scuttled by disruptions over Telangana issue caused by TDP members storming the Well.
    
The alleged dubious land deals of Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra was also one of the major issues that paralysed proceedings, which were also disrupted over matters like solar scam in Kerala and violence in Kishtwar and other areas of Jammu region.
    
After five adjournments due to repeated disruptions, the House was adjourned for the day at 1600 hours as pleas to TDP members, agitating in the Well, to allow smooth conduct during the consideration of the Food Bill went unheeded.

    

Food Minister K V Thomas' statement on the bill could not be heard in the din, while Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj appealed to agitating TDP members to shift their protest outside the House in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue.
    
TDP MPs were wearing shirts with slogan 'Save Andhra Pradesh, Save Democracy'.
    
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said he had spoken to TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu in this regard. "I appeal to them not to obstruct the work of Parliament and do not lose the sympathy we have towards them," he said.
    
The issue of Vadra figured as soon as the House assembled for the day and it also saw slogans and counter-slogans from BJP and Congress members.

    
Taking an obvious dig at Vadra, Yashwant Sinha (BJP) said, "Though there are several business schools which teach models of making money, there is one highly connected person who did not go to any such school but has given a model where no investment is made but windfall gains of thousands of crores are made."
    
BJP took up the Vadra issue but found little support from any Opposition party, including the Left.