The all-party meet held yesterday.
New Delhi:
Incessant disruptions in Parliament may stall a discussion on the government's flagship Food Security Bill once again.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is expected to lead the debate in Lok Sabha on the landmark law that aims to provide subsidised wheat and rice at between Rs. 2 and Rs.3 per kilo to nearly 800 million people.
But sources say the Congress, in an internal meeting, discussed that the Bill should not be taken up unless the House is in order.
The Bill was tabled in Parliament last week but has not been taken up for discussion due to repeated disruptions, often by the ruling party's own MPs from Andhra Pradesh, who are protesting against the division of the state for the creation of a separate Telangana.
On Tuesday, the main opposition BJP targeted the government relentlessly on Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra's alleged land deals in Haryana, preventing any discussion on the Food Bill.
The BJP, however, is not opposed to the food law, despite its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's objections in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh citing "key deficiencies" in the Bill.
The Samajwadi Party, which supports the minority United Progressive Alliance government from outside, is also opposed to the bill, calling it anti-farmer.
But the Congress is banking on Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United who support the bill in principle.
The Left Front has sought amendments to the proposed legislation, and is therefore expected to vote against it.
The reform aims at providing highly-subsidized food to nearly 70 percent of India's population at a cost of Rs 1,25 lakh crores and the Congress is counting on it as a vote-getter as it seeks a third straight victory in national elections, due by May.
Sonia Gandhi had also asked for some changes in the Bill which were discussed at an all-party meeting called yesterday to ensure its smooth passage. Mrs Gandhi wants contractors kept out of the programme, the setting up of community kitchens and ensuring food for the homeless.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is expected to lead the debate in Lok Sabha on the landmark law that aims to provide subsidised wheat and rice at between Rs. 2 and Rs.3 per kilo to nearly 800 million people.
But sources say the Congress, in an internal meeting, discussed that the Bill should not be taken up unless the House is in order.
The Bill was tabled in Parliament last week but has not been taken up for discussion due to repeated disruptions, often by the ruling party's own MPs from Andhra Pradesh, who are protesting against the division of the state for the creation of a separate Telangana.
On Tuesday, the main opposition BJP targeted the government relentlessly on Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra's alleged land deals in Haryana, preventing any discussion on the Food Bill.
The BJP, however, is not opposed to the food law, despite its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's objections in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh citing "key deficiencies" in the Bill.
The Samajwadi Party, which supports the minority United Progressive Alliance government from outside, is also opposed to the bill, calling it anti-farmer.
But the Congress is banking on Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United who support the bill in principle.
The Left Front has sought amendments to the proposed legislation, and is therefore expected to vote against it.
The reform aims at providing highly-subsidized food to nearly 70 percent of India's population at a cost of Rs 1,25 lakh crores and the Congress is counting on it as a vote-getter as it seeks a third straight victory in national elections, due by May.
Sonia Gandhi had also asked for some changes in the Bill which were discussed at an all-party meeting called yesterday to ensure its smooth passage. Mrs Gandhi wants contractors kept out of the programme, the setting up of community kitchens and ensuring food for the homeless.
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