Narendra Modi writes to PM against Food Bill, wants meet of Chief Ministers

New Delhi: Narendra Modi has written to the Prime Minister to oppose the government's flagship new scheme to entitle nearly 70 per cent of India's population to subsidised food, intended as a major vote-getter in the national election, due by May.

Among Mr Modi's objectionsto the bill is that the state governments are not being given a say in determining"the eligibility criteria". (Read full text of the letter here)

The cabinet used special constitutional powers to introduce the scheme as a law last month, but Parliament has to approve the legislation within six weeks. Without the support of Mr Modi's party, the BJP, the government will have to work hard to shore up support within allies like Mulayam Singh Yadav to ensure the bill is cleared by Parliament.

The bill is due for a debate and vote soon, but the last few days have seen Parliament focus on protests by some members of the decision to create Telangana as the country's 29th state, and more recently, by the concern over the death of five Indian soldiers in Kashmir who were ambushed by the Pakistani army.

Mr Modi, who is expected to be the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, has reportedly sought a meeting of all chief ministers for a discussion on the Food Security Bill.

The food security law, which will cost the government Rs 1.25 lakh crore was championed by Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi.

The programme aims to provide subsidised wheat and rice at between Rs 2 and Rs 3 per kilo to nearly 800 million people.