Congress leaders claimed that Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma had scripted a "victory" for the government.
Spokesperson P C Chacko said, "What the commerce minister has achieved is to establish India's firm position on food security, despite the pressure exerted by the US. When we give subsidy to our farmers, it is not even 10 per cent of what developed countries like France and USA give in the form of concessions to theirs."
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"What we give as part of our food security programme to the people is essentially a bid towards poverty alleviation and is an essential part of the country's development. We have always maintained that we are not going to compromise (on food security) and we have delivered on that," he added. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left Front attacked the government for buckling under pressure from developed countries.
Responding to the BJP's criticism, Randeep Surjewala said, "The Opposition has always believed in creating a mood of cynicism and negativism. They are only interested in wrecking and demolishing whatever we achieve."
"Food security is part of the national agenda of India and not just the Congress," he added.
The agenda to feed the poor and the hungry is of paramount importance not just nationally but internationally as a step towards fighting hunger, deprivation and poverty