The Cabinet failed to discuss the food security ordinance here on Tuesday apparently due to the lack of consensus among Congress leadership, the party’s allies and its outside supporters.
The Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry had sent a note to the Cabinet on Tuesday recommending an ordinance in place of the Food Security Bill, which is under the consideration of Parliament.
A senior Congress leader said the party thought of an ordinance after conflicting signals from the Government’s outside supporter, Samajwadi Party. The SP had said that it will not support Food Security Bill as the legislation was “anti-farmer.”
A meeting of the Congress core committee on Saturday had asked Food Minister K.V. Thomas to prepare an ordinance to implement the scheme.
However, the Cabinet failed to take up the issue as the UPA leadership could not reach a consensus. The party leadership has favoured more discussions with the allies, supporters and Opposition parties to see whether the ordinance route could be avoided.
“There are two options before the Government. The Bill could be passed either in Parliament or the scheme could be implemented by bringing an ordinance. We have not decided whether to call a special session or pre-schedule the Monsoon session,” a Minister said.
He added that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Thomas will co-ordinate the Government’s efforts on the issue. The ordinance is not likely to come up in the next meeting of the Cabinet, too.