Special session for Food Security Bill unlikely

Chatter about a special session was fuelled by Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, and top leadership of the party

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The Congress Core Committee today met to discuss the best way to ensure early legislative passage of the Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Act. However, a special session of Parliament is highly unlikely, top sources in the parliamentary affairs ministry told Business Standard.

While admitting that there were compelling political reasons to hold a special session to pass these ‘pro-people’ Bills, the sources pointed out that the session will have to be held in the first week of July, but the monsoon session is likely in the end of July any way.

“How are we going to justify the vast expenditure on calling a special session ? What can you do in a special session that you cannot do in a normal monsoon session” the sources asked. The buzz about a special session started after Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the top leadership of the party held a three-hour meeting today.

There were media reports that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath might meet Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on the matter. The Opposition has to agree before a special session can be called. However, sources indicated that the government prefers to hold discussions and pass the two Bills in the monsoon session.

Today’s core committee meeting also discussed the damage done to the Congress by the resignation of three Andhra Pradesh MPs from the party over the issue of Telangana.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who has returned from his Chhattisgarh visit, briefed the party leadership in detail about the May 25 Bastar Maoist attack and the measures taken by the government in the aftermath.

A meeting of the United Progressive Alliance coordination committee is due to be held on Monday to discuss the two Bills. It is well known that some allies have reservations about the Food Security Bill and India’s capacity to be able to meet the massive challenge of procurement this Bill represents.