The Government may convene a special session of Parliament to ensure passage of the National Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011.
A core committee meeting of the Congress on Friday is learned to have considered various options for passing key legislations, particularly, the Food Security Bill.
The meeting was attended by party President Sonia Gandhi; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Defence Minister A.K. Antony; and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
The committee summoned Food Minister K.V. Thomas to weigh the various options before the Government on the Food Bill, which is said to be a pet legislation of Sonia Gandhi. The Bill could not be passed as the Opposition disrupted the Budget session, demanding the resignation of two Cabinet Ministers, who were eventually asked to quit after the session was called of two days ahead of schedule.
In Friday’s meeting, Sonia Gandhi was said to be in favour of a debate on the Food Bill in both the Houses.
A Congress source said the party leadership discussed various options such as executive order, ordinance, special session or waiting till the Monsoon session for implementing these legislations.
However, the Congress leadership was of the view that if a special session was convened, the Opposition’s stand on the Bills would be exposed.
“If they abstain from the proceedings or continue to disrupt the House, the Bharatiya Janata Party will be further exposed among the public,” a Congress leader said.
Meanwhile, the BJP said Congress should blame itself for non-passage of the Food Bill.
“Let them hold discussions with our leaders with a proposal to hold a special session. We will make our stand clear then,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.