Government has allies' support on Food Security Bill: Manish Tewari

Mumbai/New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Friday said that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has complete support of its coalition partners on the Food Security Bill.

"With a lot of responsibility I would like to say that we (Congress party) respect all our supporters. But whereas Food Security or its Bill is concerned, we are on the same page with our allies," he told the media in Mumbai.

Tewari further lashed out at the BJP for blocking crucial bills in the Parliament, particularly the one pertaining to food security.

"The UPA wants to remove hunger, while it seems that the BJP wants to remove the hungry," he added.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, earlier on Wednesday said the UPA Government is committed to the passage of Food Security Bill.

"The Food Security Bill is a very important legislation for the government. The UPA is committed to make this law after considering all opinions," he said.

Food Minister K.V. Thomas had earlier said he has to look into various angles before taking a call.

"I am neither ruling in or ruling out. I have not thought of that. I have to study all these things. There are so many options," he told mediapersons outside the Parliament, when asked whether government could bring an ordinance to implement the food security law.

The bill could not be passed as the budget session of Parliament adjourned Sine die two days ahead of its schedule.

The Food Bill aims at giving legal right over a uniform quantity of 5 kg foodgrains at a fixed price of Rs 1-3 per kg via ration shops to 67 percent of the population.

The amendments to the Food Bill, which was originally introduced in Parliament in December 2011, was moved in the Lok Sabha last week, but discussion could not take place due to disruption of proceedings on several issues, including coalgate scam.

The government had made three attempts in the Lok Sabha last week to get the bill passed.

The main opposition party had said that it will not allow the Congress-led UPA Government to push its important bills in Parliament till the resignations of Union Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. (ANI)