Describing Food Security as a fundamental right of every Indian citizen, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Atul Anjan on Wednesday lashed out at the ruling Congress Party at the Centre, saying it has failed to control poverty, illiteracy and price rise.
"Every citizen has a right to it, but the Central Government wants to divide this right and wants to create mystery among the people," he said.
Anjan said every family should be provided with 35 kgs rice and wheat at the rate of Rs. two per kg or even less than that.
"The Congress has been in power for the past 54.5 years, but it has not been able to control poverty, illiteracy and price rise. This bill should be discussed in the Parliament," he added.
The proposed ordinance on food security is likely to be taken up again at a meeting of the Union Cabinet today.
On June 13, the Cabinet had deferred the proposal amid differences on the issue.
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet that the government will try to call a special session of Parliament to debate and pass the Bill, which aims at providing the legal right to subsidised food to nearly 67 percent of India's population.
The Food Security Bill was tabled during the Budget Session of Parliament, but it could not be taken up for discussion because of the opposition-led disruptions of proceedings arising out of the scam-related allegations.
The Food Security Bill is aimed at giving legal rights to 67 percent of the population for a uniform quantity of five kg foodgrains at a fixed price of Rs one to three per kg through ration shops.
