Food Bill likely to be debated in Parliament on Wednesday

Amidst the continuing din over the allegations surrounding Robert Vadra in the Lok Sabha, food minister KV Thomas on Tuesday attempted to begin the debate on converting the food security ordinance into a law. The debate could not be completed as the Lok Sabha was adjourned to Wednesday.

The government will now try to continue with the debate on Wednesday, but the Opposition parties may not play ball, report CNBC-TV18’s Siddharth Zarabi and Elan Dutta.

Also read: Won't allow debate on Vadra deals in Parliament: Congress

The Food Security Bill, which comes with an economic cost of Rs 1,25,000 crore in the current fiscal, is being drowned in the din over other issues including Telangana and allegations against Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra. With the Congress on the backfoot, the hope for a constructive debate on such a landmark law remains bleak.

Food minister KV Thomas said, "The discussion on the Food Bill will happen tomorrow. I am hopeful it will be considered.”

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has been strident in its opposition to the proposed law on the grounds that it is anti-farmer. The BJP, which so far has run with the hare and hunted with the hounds on the Bill, is also now making its stance clear.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has written to the prime minister. The letter makes the BJP's shift in stance quite apparent. Modi has sought a meeting of all CMs to discuss the proposals.

“I have asked the PM to convene a meeting of all CMs. We will all sit down and formulate a strong bill. I looked at this ordinance in detail. I felt sad and wrote a letter to the PM”, said, Narendra Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat.

Food bill: Govt vs Opposition

The floor management of the Congress has been hamstrung due to issues like Telangana. The party is now making appeals to the Telugu Desam Party.

Sandeep Dixit, member of Parliament, Congress said, “(I) appeal to TDP members to allow Lok Sabha to function for the food bill.”

Meanwhile, the Congress has asked all its MPs to be present in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during the Food Bill debate. It does not want to be caught napping if the passage of the law goes beyond a voice vote to division.