As the logjam in Parliament is expected to continue further with escalated rift between the government and the Opposition, the Centre is now mooting the idea of bringing an ordinance to implement the politically sensitive National Food Security Act (NFSA). Since the proposed law would need some time to become a reality on the ground, the government is contemplating to go in for ordinance route after the completion of the ongoing Budget Session, a senior minister in the government said.
As the draft food security bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet well before the commencement of the Budget Session in February, the original plan was that the bill would be introduced in the first leg of the session only, but because of the logjam in Parliament, the government failed to do so.
The Opposition BJP has been stalling Parliament over the contentious coal block allocations and the 2G spectrum scam issues, demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation.
“Sensing that the government may not get cooperation from the BJP during rest of the session, consultations have begun at the top level in the government to look for other options to push through the bill,” the minister said.
It is also learnt from sources that top leaders in the government are not in favour of getting the bill passed amidst din, as Parliamentary convention does not allow passage of any important legislation without a thorough debate on the floor of the two Houses of Parliament.
Sources revealed that “ordinance route” to enact food bill is being considered as preferable option, as it gives the Congress-led UPA coalition “double advantage”. They said, “First the government would get ample time before the scheduled 2014 election to implement it on the ground. Secondly, Congress will get some additional ammunition against the Opposition parties in browbeating them by claiming that they work against public interest.”
Sources in the ruling Congress also feel the urgency to pass the food bill now, as it would take some time to roll it out.