Election campaign has virtually begun. While the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi launched food security programme in the national capital, the JD(U) and the Samajwadi Party are moving closer to the Congress after realising that they cannot afford to oppose the bill.
But the BJP’s election campaign committee chief Narendra Modi is focusing on the Centre’s failure to check the sliding rupee and the economic crisis.
The Congress wants to re-identify with poor after initiating economic reforms but its main adversary the BJP has been addressing the issues of unemployment and economic slowdown to attract youth in urban and rural areas and middle class.
If the corruption, unemployment and governance could mar the Congress’s prospects in the Lok Sabha elections whenever it will be held, the food security programme will bring the Sonia Gandhi-led party closer to the poor and under privileged.
Launched the ambitious programme in Delhi on the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi here on Tuesday, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi hailed it as an “unparalleled” scheme in the world.
The scheme was rolled out in three Congress-ruled states of Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand even as the consideration of the bill was scuttled in Parliament by the Opposition, which cornered the government on the issue of missing files related to the coal block allocation.
“We made the scheme so that nobody remains hungry in the country and no one’s child sleeps hungry. Giving food security in such a large scale is unparalleled in the world,” Mrs Gandhi said. “Two-third of the nation’s 125 crore people will be provided foodgrains at very cheap rates. Over 80 crore people in the country will get foodgrains at cheaper rates besides 50 per cent of the urban population will also be benefited from it and we are proud of it,” she added. Mrs Gandhi recalled Rajiv Gandhi’s concern for the poor and added that the “UPA government is following the ideals of Gandhi and continuously marching forward to bring revolutionary changes in the lives of the aam admi.”
While Mrs Gandhi refrained from attacking the Opposition, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and Union food minister K.V. Thomas slammed them for obstructing the passage of the bill in Parliament. Mr Thomas was in particular critical of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi accusing him of delaying the “right of the people”.
Meanwhile the AICC general secretary Ambika Soni said te food bill is on the Congress “priority list” as it aims for inclusive growth taking along all sections of the society.