Seeds of food security sown to reap votes: SP

Samajwadi Party supports Congress-led UPA govt at the Centre from outside

Terming food security Ordinance anti-farmer, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday accused Congress of vote-bank politics in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.

Questioning the intentions of Congress, Yadav claimed the Ordinance had been introduced to reap poll benefits just like the party did by bringing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

SP supports the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre from outside.

Yadav told the media here the law could be detrimental to the interests of farmers. He observed since Parliament session was set later this month, the matter could have been discussed in the House.

“Wheat, rice and sugar form the largest basket of farm produce. If these be provided at subsidised rates by the government, then who will buy from farmers?” he said.

Yadav said the party would study the Ordinance and act in the interests of the farmers and poor. He, however, said the Centre had assured this aspect would be looked into.

Meanwhile, the Ordinance has become a law after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his consent on Friday.

Now, 800 million of India’s 1.2 billion population would be entitled to 5 kg foodgrain each a month at subsidised rates: Rs 3/kg for rice, Rs 2/kg for wheat and Re 1/kg for coarse grain.

The food subsidy is likely to swell to Rs 1,24,724 crore at 2013-14 costs. Earlier, the Budget had pegged food subsidy at Rs 90,000 crore for 2013-14.

The Ordinance would lapse if it does not get Parliament's approval within six weeks of the first sitting of the monsoon session.