Launching a frontal attack on the UPA's ambitious Food Security Bill, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday said the proposed bill is a "Congress Protection Bill".
"Motive behind this Bill is to get benefit during elections, this is not food security bill, its a Congress Protection Bill," Raut said.
"The food security is not because the government is worried about the poor people, but it is a political bill, as election is heading closer. It is not a food protection bill, but a Congress Protection Bill," he added.
UPA's ambitious Food Security Bill is expected to come up for discussion and passage today.
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.
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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.