BJP lashes out at Cong over food security 'lollipop'

New Delhi, July 10: Accusing Congress of dangling the "lollipop" of food security to the poor ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the JP said on Tuesday had it followed correct policies and ensured development, there would have been no need for such a law and funds could have been be used for creating employment.

"When the UPA came to power it said it will get the Food Security Bill passed within 100 days. But there are bringing it as a lollipop now after being in power for nine years when polls are drawing near. This is a cruel joke on the poor," BJP President Rajnath Singh said at a party programme here.

Singh alleged that more than 80 crore people of the country still need food security due to the wrong policies and corruption of the Congress which has ruled the country for 55 years since independence.

"Congress has made us bankrupt when once the country used to be rich. Food security is needed for 67 per cent of the population today. Who is responsible for this?" he said.

The BJP president said 3% of the GDP will be spent on food security if the Ordinance is approved. "One per cent of GDP can help create employment for 35 lakh youth. So this amount could have generated employment for nearly 1.25 Lakh youth," Singh said.

BJP wants changes to be made in the Food Security Bill and has demanded that the issue be debated in Parliament before it is passed. It has opposed the Ordinance route taken by the government.

However, BJP is likely to vote for the Food Bill when it comes up in the Parliament.

"Whenever polls are near, Congress comes up with such lollipops to the poor. It does politics only to form a government," Singh said.

PTI