Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar expressed support to the Food Security Bill today, saying that his party has been constantly giving the Centre inputs throughout its development. He also said that though the UPA-led government had incorporated some of their suggestions, his party will bring up their pending reservations regarding the scheme in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
"We have some suggestions and objections in regard to the Food Security Ordinance, which we have expressed to be incorporated. When discussions were going on for the Food Security Bill with the various state governments, we were asked for our opinion and we have given it in great detail several times. Even when the discussions were held of the present version of the Food Security Bill, we gave our comments in detail which are in the public domain. ...We have constantly maintained that the scheme should come in. Some of our inputs were incorporated, while some of them were left out. The suggestions that were left out will be brought up by us in the Parliament, " Nitish Kumar said here at a press conference.
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Kumar also said that the Food Security Ordinance, even in its present form, would benefit thousands of people in Bihar especially those residing in the rural areas.
Before the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had appealed to the opposition parties for their cooperation during the Session and deemed the Food Security ordinance the "most important" ordinance that the Parliament has on its hands.
"But all that we expect fully is to ask the opposition to cooperate with the government in passing the essential legislative work, which is the primary responsibility of Parliament. Of all the ordinances, five or six ordinances which are before the Parliament and most important is Food Security Ordinance," said Dr. Singh.
"And I sincerely hope that the Parliament in its wisdom will find it productive, find it justified to convert that Ordinance into a Bill and an act of Parliament," he added.
Fourteen Congress-led states are expected to roll out the UPA's food security scheme from August 20, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had held consultations with chief ministers of all Congress-ruled states on July 13, where she asked them to efficiently implement the food security scheme in "letter and spirit."
President Pranab Mukherjee signed the ordinance on the Food Security Bill on July 5, with the aim of providing food grains every month to two-thirds of the nation's population at highly subsidized rates.
Political parties have sharply criticized the promulgation of the ordinance, calling it undemocratic and demanding that the Food Security Bill should be debated in both Houses before being passed.
The bill aims to provide 5 Kg of food grains per person per month at a subsidized rate through the State Governments under the targeted public distribution system. It is set to be the largest food welfare scheme in the world.
