Virtually launching the election campaign in the capital, Rahul Gandhi today attacked the opposition for criticising the food security law, saying money spent on giving food to the poor cannot be called a "waste".
Addressing his first public meeting ahead of the coming assembly polls, the Congress Vice President hailed the rights-based entitlements approach of the UPA government and claimed that for the first time in thousands of years, no one will go hungry in the country.
"When the need to provide food security to the poor was discussed in Parliament, the Opposition spoke against it and said money will be wasted. If this is waste of money, then we will keep wasting it.
"Is providing someone with food a waste of money? If money is spent on it, then so be it. For the first time in thousands of years, no one in this country will go hungry," he said adding "We want the poor people of the country to stand on their feet."
Gandhi was speaking at a function after handing over documents offering ownership rights to the first batch of residents of the resettlement colonies in Delhi.
The ambitious law, expected to benefit 82 crore people in the country, is seen as a "game changer" by the Congress as it prepares to face general elections due in May next year. The BJP had termed the Bill as a "gimmick" with an eye on elections though the party supported it.
Some parties, including UPA's outside supporter Samajwadi Party, had criticised the bill saying it will put additional financial burden on states.
