The food security Bill, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet and will probably be passed in the current session of Parliament, bears the distinct imprint of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is credited as the brain behind the legislation. Officials said it was her suggestion to expand the maternity benefit to more than two children against the earlier proposal of limiting it to the first two children. That is perhaps why Food Minister K V Thomas, a loyal Congressman if there ever was one, rushed to meet her in Parliament as soon as the Cabinet cleared the Bill and, reportedly, thanked her profusely for her support.
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