| Food Security Bill: no ordinance for now, government wants special Parliament session | | | Agencies
New Delhi:June 13 The government on Thursday said it will make one more effort to get the Food Security Bill passed in a special session of Parliament instead of issuing an ordinance. In response to criticism from the Opposition and key allies, the Prime Minister deferred plans to use an ordinance to provide subsidised food to nearly 70% of India's population today. The government will try to convene a special session of Parliament instead to clear the $24 billion or Rs.1.3 lakh crore welfare reform. The government had planned to use an executive order to clear the Food Security Bill at a Cabinet meeting today, but Dr Manmohan Singh reportedly said "one more effort" must be made to bring the Opposition on board.
"Our intention is to get it (Food Bill) passed in a special session of Parliament and we are making one more effort to ask the Opposition parties to support us," Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. Food Minister KV Thomas underscored that the option of using an ordinance has been delayed, not shelved. The scheme, which will increase the annual subsidy bill by 1.3 lakh crore, |
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