By the time the food bill would be implemented, the repercussion of the bill will start to reflect in the Indian economy.
With Rupee at an all time low of 66.07 and Sensex plunging down, we have already began to feel what it would be like to have a scheme in the country, which is going to be a big burden on the exchequer. While the government tried to have its own way by passing an ordinance and seeing to it that the food security bill was implemented in the 11 states ruled by it, before harping on getting it passed, making the Lok Sabha work overtime, what the opposition did was something no opposition could have done – it did not oppose the food bill.
What was worse that the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and a master of parliamentary games, Sushma Swaraj, came up with a statement showing solidarity with the UPA government, saying although the food bill was “half baked” but still they supported it.
Others may be thinking that Mrs Swaraj has lost the sense of an opposing leader and that she needs to keep a check on the kind of statements she is clearly making. But let me tell you, she revels in the fact that she, with her band, let the food bill pass for she foresees what is coming next.
As we all know and as RS Sheshadri, director of the Tilda Riceland had put it, anyone who could have stood against the food bill would have been called anti-poor. And this was the last thing BJP could have asked for, with the general elections knocking the door.
We should see the beauty of the ironical statement made by Mrs Swaraj putting two great things in one line. One- BJP opposes food bill by saying it is “half baked”, second- they gain and sustain the trust of public by supporting the bill, which is supposedly going to cover power and eradicate hunger.
If anyone would have questioned them over the reasons of supporting the food bill, in spite of knowing it was half baked, they would have definitely had an answer ready for it. They did try to stall it by constantly interrupting the parliamentary proceedings. They did debate the bill and demand a hefty number of important amendments to the bill, which would have practically changed the face of it. This is also precisely the reason why the UPA turned down 305 opposition amendments in Lok Sabha. The only accusation perhaps remains that they did not debate it enough.
By the time the food bill would be implemented in the UPA ruled states, and by the time opposing states would agree to implement it, the repercussion of the bill will start to reflect in the Indian economy.
It’s a win-win situation in all for BJP. If it can’t win the next assembly election, surely it will make it tough for the Congress too.
And who said BJP can’t win the election?
