The Samajwadi Party today said it will support the Food Security Bill in Parliament if the amendments, including giving due price to farmers and changing the definition of those below the poverty line (BPL), suggested by it, are accepted.
“We have made certain suggestions such as ensuring farmers get 100 per cent guaranteed price for their crop. We also want the definition of BPL to be changed so that more poor people are included. Free grains should be provided to the poorest,” SP leader Naresh Aggarwal told presspersons outside Parliament House.
He maintained that if these amendments were accepted, then the Samajwadi Party would support the Bill.
The Bill is likely to come up for discussion and passage in the Lok Sabha today.
Meanwhile, the BJP maintained that the Congress is not serious about passing the Bill as its own members are disturbing proceedings on the Telangana issue.
“The proceedings were wasted for a whole week by Congress MPs. This is part of the deliberate design of the Congress. On the Telangana issue, they want to have the cake and eat it too,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
The main Opposition has said it would support the Bill provided its amendments were accepted. It has cited the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act as a model legislation on which the Centre should frame its Bill.