More than Food Bill, Naxal issue dominates agenda

Insiders are of the opinion that the UPA should highlight the Naxal violence and derive maximum mileage out of it

Left-wing extremism, rather than the Food Security Bill, dominated the co-ordination committee meeting of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government today.

"We discussed at length the recent Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters after the meeting. He said an all-party meeting would be convened to discuss the Naxal issue.

Sources said while Naxalism was the main topic that took centrestage at the coordination meeting today, the Food Bill - especially its "implementation problems" - was also discussed.

"All options are open on the Food Bill and how to take it forward," Nath added.

Talking about the May 25 Bastar attack in which the entire top brass of the Chhattisgarh Congress was wiped out, Nath said: "The recent Naxal attack was no small one. It was an assault on our democratic and political foundations. We want all political parties to be engaged in deciding the future course of action."

While the Congress-led UPA has been stating it is committed to the food Bill and is keen to get it passed by Parliament, it is going slow on the ambitious legislation in the wake of 'concerns' expressed by allies such as the Samajwadi Party (SP).

For instance, SP leader Naresh Agarwal today described the Bill as 'anti-farmer', saying: "The day the Bill is implemented, farmers will not get proper dues for their produce." According to him, the government is eyeing mid-term elections by introducing this Bill.

Earlier, UPA ally Nationalist Congress Party had also expressed reservations about the viability of the project and how the government would make available such a massive quantity of food grains.

Insiders are of the opinion that the UPA should highlight the Naxal issue and derive maximum mileage out of it because elections are due in Chhattisgarh this year. The Food Bill, on which a consensus was yet to be arrived at, could be taken up subsequently.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the principal opposition party, has already stated it was all for calling a special session of Parliament to take up the Food Bill.

However, the government is still undecided and is open to all options on the Bill, including the Ordinance route, special session of Parliament, or by preponing the monsoon session.

VOICES ON FOOD SECURITY BILL
Samajwadi Party
Be warned. This means the United Progressive Alliance is going to advance the elections
CPI-M
The government should table the Bill on the first day of the monsoon session and should take on board the amendments cited CPI-M
Janata Dal (United)
We want the Bill on the first day of the monsoon session. We will support those elements of the Bill we are in agreement with
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Monsoon session of Parliament should be advanced to pass this Bill, after modifications we had suggested