Amid din, the Congress-led UPA Government on Thursday managed to introduce the amended National Food Security Bill, 2011 in the Lower House.
Even as members of the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and the Samajwadi Party (SP) were in the Well shouting at their loudest (for different reasons though), the Chair allowed Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution K V Thomas to introduce the Bill. “Please go back to your seats. This is an important Bill,” said Francisco Sardinha, who was in the Chair, even as his pleas fell on deaf ears.
“I am happy that I was able to introduce the Bill. I could have managed to get the Bill passed if I wanted to, but I wanted some discussion to take place on the amended Bill. The Standing Committee has, after all, given it a unanimous approval,” Thomas told Express.
“I hope the Bill is passed before the session ends on May 10. I hope that like the Opposition parties came to an agreement on the Finance Bill, they will see reason on this as well,” added Thomas. With the BJP maintaining its strident opposition to the government, it will be a difficult task for the government to pass the Bill in the ongoing session.
Finance Bill passed
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday approved the Finance Bill and returned it as passed by the Lok Sabha after the entire Opposition staged a walkout. After the Finance Bill was introduced, leaders of all Opposition parties severely criticised the government for all-round failure, subverting the institutions like the JPC, corruption and then attempts to cover up scams, and for being weak in foreign policy, which led to the death of Sarabjit Singh.