BJP to raise Telangana, Food Bill in Parliament

New Delhi: BJP 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 beginning on Monday.

At a strategy session chaired by senior party leader LK 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 told reporters here. "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. Prasad said when Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were created during the NDA rule, widest possible consultations were held with all political parties and a peaceful way was found for their creation. He, however, said, "BJP will make an honest effort to fully cooperate in smooth functioning of Parliament". On the Railway scam, Prasad expressed dismay that former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal was not made an accused when the evidence and transcripts allegedly showed his links. He said the CBI charge sheet, which was placed and discussed at today`s meeting, also "confirms" how Congress was "misusing" the agency and BJP will raise it in Parliament. "The evidence shows how Bansal and his family members are linked with the scam. The phone transcript also has information about top Congress leaders who were aware of the deals. Despite this, Bansal was not made an accused and Congress leaders were not questioned by CBI," he said. PTI