BJP to raise Telangana, Food Bill in Parliament

New Delhi, Aug 4:

will raise issues like the Telangana statehood, Food Security Bill, fall in value of rupee and the Uttarakhand floods during the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins on Monday.

At a strategy session chaired by senior party leader L K Advani, BJP decided to seek amendments in the Food Bill saying several concerns had to be addressed before its passage, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

"In principle, we are in agreement with this (Food) Bill, but we have a lot to say. There is a Chhattisgarh model, then there is the interest of the farmers, we have to put in a lot of suggestions, amendments," he said.

Prasad said there were several concerns, including what would happen to the existing PDS system and the financial implications of implementing the new law.

The two-hour long meeting was attended by BJP president Rajnath Singh, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley and other senior party leaders.

The Telangana issue was also discussed, especially the unrest in Andhra region, Prasad said, adding, the Congress decision would be raised in Parliament.

"Congress has mishandled the issue, it has done it for political considerations as the elections are near," he said.

PTI