
New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) Accusing the BJP-led central government of "killing the purpose and intent" of the National Food Security Act, 2013, the Congress Saturday said it was a "crude attempt to make a mockery of the crores of toiling poor of India by the BJP".
The Congress also criticised it for giving cash to the poor instead of subsidised food grains.
Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the BJP government had become anti-farmer and anti-poor.
"The BJP government is preparing to kill the purpose and intent as also soul and spirit of the Food Security Act by reducing the number of eligible beneficiaries from 67 to 40 percent," he said.
The Congress leader held Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for it saying that nobody could have done it without his permission.
"This recommendation (of reducing number of eligible beneficiaries) was made by a committee constituted to examine the Food Security Act by Modi," he said.
He criticised the government for making an "anti-farmer" amendment to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 by way of an ordinance.
"It exposes the anti-poor and farmer face of the ruling dispensation," Surjewala added.
The Congress leader also questioned the BJP whether its "intent and motive behind supporting the Food Security Act, 2013 in parliament was to subsequently kill its soul and spirit on formation of the BJP government".
He said that when the Shanta Kumar committee, set up to examine the Food Security Act and to reconstitute the Food Corporation of India (FDI), has proposed direct cash transfer of food subsidy even to the remaining 40 percent beneficiaries instead of providing food grains over the next three years, how the poor would buy food grains at the prevailing market prices with the small amount of subsidy.
The Congress leader also wondered that when all this was being done whether the government would also stop procuring wheat, paddy and other crops at the Minimum Support Price to maintain its existing well defined food stocks after the commencement of the direct cash transfer policy.
"It's all inter-linked, the government must explain to the nation what its plans were," he said.
BCCI tells Kohli to maintain dignity of team
Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Finally after all the hustle and bustle regarding the controversy surrou
Corona continues to wreak havoc in the country. More than one and a half million corona patients
India-China Ladakh Meeting: India-China military commanders meet amid deadlock over LAC
New Delhi. India-China Ladakh Meeting, an important meeting between India and China is taking pla
Delhi Weather: Rain continues in Delhi-NCR, cold weather, yellow alert issued
The rain in Delhi-NCR for three consecutive days has cooled down the heat. Today, for the third c
new Delhi. Scientists from around the world have been looking for ways to prevent the spread of c
IPL 2023. The excitement for the 16th season of the Indian Premier League is increasing with each
Tripura Government Employees to get more Pay
Agartala, March 31 (IANS) To pacify its aggrieved employees seeking central government pay scal
Delhi HC orders security to Vyapam whistleblower
New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the city police to evaluate t
Covid-19: Omicron's 'XBB' variant most active in India, INSACOG released a bulletin on Covid
The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) released a bulletin on Monday amid fears of a
'MSG' releases amid tight security
Chandigarh, Feb 13 (IANS) Amid tight security across Haryana and Chandigarh, controversial film