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The Shiv Sena shocked its two decade-old ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Monday by extending its wholehearted support to the food security Bill.
Shiv Sena group leader and former minister Anant Geete in his speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, revealed the party's line to support the Bill, and without suggesting any amendments. The Shiv Sena’s stand caught the BJP unawares, especially when it had suggested a slew of amendments while terming the Bill a ‘Vote Security Bill’.
However, while extending its support to the crucial legislation, the Shiv Sena said it was the responsibility of the Centre to ensure the actual beneficiaries were benefitted without putting additional burden on the states. Further, the Sena insisted the farmers’ interests be protected, as they played a key role in increasing of farm production.
This is not the first time that the Sena has taken a diametrically opposite stand from the BJP. In the past, it had supported the candidatures of Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee for the post of president during the past two presidential elections. In the election involving Patil, the BJP had fielded veteran leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who lost.
