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Journalism of Courage
In a bid to bring them on board for an ordinance on food security Bill,Food Minister K V Thomas will reach out to leaders of UPA allies NCP,NC and the RLD next week.
While the Congress leadership is keen on the ordinance,it is yet to decide on when to bring it. The food ministry has even readied the Cabinet note. Sources said the Congress leadership wants the scheme to be rolled out in at least half of the states in the next six months.
Thomas on Thursday met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi,in which it is learnt,he discussed the fate of the Bill. Since the process to draw up the beneficiary list is complicated,sources said,the party believes the benefit of the scheme would be felt only about six months after it is implemented but much before general elections. The Congress believes the move to reach out to its allies is necessary to avert any last-minute opposition and also to keep the political debate centered around the welfare initiative.
Congress sources said any step on the ordinance cannot be taken without bringing on board NCP chief Sharad Pawar. In the past,Pawar had questioned the sustainability of the programme in the long run. He had doubts on the extent to which the government can provide food security if the country had to face repeated drought situations. Though the RLD has not objected to the Bill,Ajit Singh would like to have assurances on safeguarding the agriculture sector given the fact that the party owes its electoral success to the farmers.
