Mulayam Singh Yadav on Food Security Bill: highlights

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who provides crucial support to the Manmohan Singh government, speaks on the Congress' flagship programmme, the Food Security Bill, which is being debated in the Lok Sabha.

Here are the highlights from Mr Yadav's speech:

• What will happen to the states? You have put so much pressure on them through the bill
• There is no guarantee in the bill that every grain produced by the farmers will be bought
• Food Bill has been brought just with the elections in mind
• Your statistics on the number of poor is not correct. First, get a survey done on those below the poverty line
• Consult with the chief ministers of India. This will help you. Pass the bill only after consulting them