New Delhi:
The UPA government introduced the Food Security Bill in Parliament Wednesday amid slogan shouting and protests by the Opposition over the killing of five Indians by Pakistanis on Tuesday morning.
"Food Security Bill will be passed, but border security is more important than food security," said Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, after the Bill was introduced.
An uproar over Defence Minister AK Antony's statement on the killings forced the house to adjourn within moments. (
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The ruling Congress had issued a whip for all its MPs to be present when the Bill is introduced. The Bill, seen as the UPA's gamechanger ahead of next year's general elections, will be discussed next week.
The Food Security Bill gives 67% Indians, or about 800 million people, the legal right to cheap food.
The AIADMK, which rules Tamil Nadu, moved a motion opposing the Bill. Its leader Jayalalithaa had slammed the measure, calling it the "food insecurity" Bill.
Sources say the Congress fears that the AIADMK may want a division - in which votes are counted - and not just a voice vote, which is why it asked its members to be present in the house.
The UPA's key ally Samajwadi Party has also opposed the Bill, saying it is anti-farmer. The government, which needs the support of the SP's 22 MPs during a vote, says it is confident it can win SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's support.