Food Security Bill: Congress gets DMK on board

NEW DELHI: The Congress and government leadership have succeeded in persuading DMK to support the food security bill. The Tamil Nadu-based party had threatened to oppose the bill as its provisions envisaged reducing the quantum of subsidised rice the state receives currently for its own food programme for the poor.

A senior leader said the breakthrough came after the UPA regime assured the DMK leadership that Tamil Nadu would continue to receive the same quantum of rice even after the implementation of the national food scheme. The Centre would also ensure that the below poverty line quota for the state would be increased.
In return, DMK is learnt to have assured the UPA government its backing for the bill when it comes up for voting in Parliament. The source said the agreement was arrived at after a couple of meetings between Food Minister KV Thomas and DMK parliamentary party leader TR Baalu in the past few days.

An influential senior AICC functionary is learnt to have taken the initiative for parleys between the government and the DMK leadership.

Thomas is believed to have assured Baalu that the Centre would continue to retain the annual overall rice quota for Tamil Nadu at 36 lakh tonnes, while increasing the subquota meant for BPL families to 24 lakh tonnes, from 20 lakh tonnes, once the food Bill is passed.

The Centre would continue to charge the present rate of Rs 3 per kg for BPL quota rice. For the remaining quota meant for those above the poverty line, and to be reduced from 16 lakh tonnes to 12 lakh tonnes, the rate would remain Rs 8 per kg.

“The agreement has been conveyed to the top DMK leadership and we are confident of DMK backing the food bill in Parliament”, the Congress source, who was privy to the talks, said. The Congress party is keen on a Lok Sabha poll alliance with the DMK and the agreement on the food security bill would help the DMK to take credit for protecting Tamil Nadu’s interest.

Government representatives are also in touch with the Janata Dal (United) and the Samajwadi Party to win their support for the bill. It has already won over the BSP and is confident that the JD(U), SP and the Left would support the bill though it smells a conspiracy on the BJP’s part to scuttle the legislation by disrupting the House.