Meenakshi Lekhi claims BJP run states have better models of food security

The Bharatiya Janta Party on Saturday alleged that the ruling Congress party has repeatedly avoided discussion on the Food Security Bill, and claimed that states ruled by the saffron outfit have a better model of the Food Security Act.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi, in a media statement, blamed the UPA Government for the poor state of the Indian economy.

"This very government which two years ago, when told by the Supreme Court to start distributing grains refused to distribute grains and chose to sell it to the breweries, is very concerned today about the food security", she said .

Meenakshi Lekhi asked why should the country, after such a long time, need food security where there is no grain security or security of the farmers. . She blamed the Congress for "all these conditions that country is going through ---for poverty for price rise for dearth of food, for suicide of farmers, making everybody's life miserable."

Meenakshi Lekhi explained how the Public Distribution System (PDS) has become a big scam, though it is functioning perfectly well in states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

"BJP run states already have a better model of food security act. We are following our own models of food security which are far more established and in fact approved models by the Supreme Court," she added.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi earlier in the day chaired a meeting, which was attended by Congress Chief Ministers and PCC chiefs, and discussed the steps for implementation of the Food Security scheme.

As many as 34 party leaders, including Chief Ministers of 14 Congress-ruled states, AICC General Secretaries and members of Congress Core Group, were present in the meeting alongwith Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.