'Govt. has nothing to offer to nation': BJP on Food Security Bill

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday lashed out at the UPA Government even as Sonia Gandhi met with the chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and party functionaries on the successful implementation of the Food Security Bill, saying it is all a reflection that the Centre has nothing to offer to the people of the country.

BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Food Security Ordinance is sought to be brought in a hurry without any debate, discussion or improvement.

"The Food Security Ordinance has been brought in a rush. All the aspects have not been considered as to how the expenditure shall be borne between the Centre and the states. There is lot of other suggestions, which are required to improve it," said Prasad.

"Even the Parliament Session, we are told is going to be a very short one. We don't hear anything about it. But the larger issue is people are suffering from inflation, from price rise, from falling rupee and a gross mismanagement of the Indian economy," he added.

Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi earlier in the day said that his party would deliberate on different provisions of the ordinance and ensure that a consensus is built among all the political parties.

"We have to bring this bill in the Monsoon Session. So, we will discuss the provisions and details of the bill in the party meeting. We will also discuss how to form a consensus with other parties on the roll out of the Food Security Bill," said Chaturvedi.

"So, we would discuss all these issues in the meeting and will decide on the future course of action," he added.

The meeting, which took place at the Congress President's official 10, Janpath residence here, deliberated on the roll out of the Food Security Bill estimated to benefit over 82 crore people among the poor the needy.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Food Minister K.V. Thomas were also among those who attended the meeting.