Pranab keeps Govt waiting on Food Ordinance
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday kept the government waiting for his consent to the ordinance on the National Food Security Bill, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.
The Opposition meanwhile trained its guns on the government for scuttling the discussion in Parliament over the legislation. Mukherjee’s decision to go through the ordinance before he puts his stamp was being viewed as a signal that unlike others he “is not a rubber stamp President.”
However, the government is confident that the President will clear the ordinance once he goes through it. Incidentally, the food Bill had the support of Mukherjee during his tenure as Finance Minister. Sources in Rashtrapati Bhavan said that the President would like to satisfy himself on the issue of "urgency" in promulgating an ordinance for the legislation when the monsoon session of Parliament is due in a few weeks’ time.
President's press secretary Venu Rajamony told this newspaper that “the notification has not yet been signed”, while denying reports that the President had raised queries on the ordinance.
Till late Thursday night, the President had not given his nod for the ordinance. Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K. V. Thomas, who wanted to brief the media on the cabinet decision, had to postpone the press meet as the President did not clear the ordinance. The ministry is hopeful that the Presidential nod will come on Friday.
Incidentally, the President would be leaving for Kanpur on Friday to attend an IIT function. The ministry had sent the ordinance for notification to the PMO on Wednesday, which then forwarded it to the President for his clearance. Opposition parties, including the BJP and the Left, have raised objections to the manner in which the Bill was being pushed through the ordinance route, as the monsoon session of Parliament is due to commence soon.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj wondered through her Twitter handle if the hurry in promulgating an ordinance was an indication for winter elections. However, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tiwari maintained that the ordinance should not be seen in the context of early elections.
The Bill was drafted by the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The Bill was also part of the poll promise of the Congress in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
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