'Not against Food Security Bill, but want certain changes to be made': BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday accused the Congress of disrupting the Parliament and added that the BJP will support the Food Security Bill with some amendments.

"BJP wants the Parliament to run smoothly; but because of Congress there were many disruptions. Yesterday, when the Congress people did not create any problem in the House, we were able to pass five bills," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

"We are not against the Food Security Bill but want to certain changes to be made in it. We want to include the Chattisgarh model in it. The suggestions given by Narendra Modi in his letter to the Prime Minister also needs to be included. If the Centre accepts the changes, it will be good and there is no prejudice and the bill can easily pass," he added.

UPA's ambitious Food Security Bill is expected to come up for discussion and passage on Monday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath had said that many leaders wanted to express their opinion on the Food Security Bill and they had requested the Speaker to take it up for discussion on Monday.

The National Food Security Bill is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives a right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices.

The Bill has a special focus on nutritional support to the poorest of the poor , women and children. In case of non-supply of foodgrains, the deprived will get a food security allowance.

The Bill also provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non -compliance by a public servant or authority.

Under the plan, the government will sell subsidised wheat and rice to 67 percent of its 1.2 billion population.