New Delhi: Opposition on Thursday rejected any move by the government to give effect to the Food Security Bill through an ordinance, saying such a method would be "undemocratic" and sought the passage of the measure after a debate in Parliament.
BJP President Rajnath Singh said issuing an ordinance on the food bill would be an "undemocratic step". It should be brought for discussion and passage in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
His statement came as Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the government would reach out to the Opposition "one more time" to gain their support for implementation of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi`s pet programme.
While Union Cabinet decided to drop the ordinance route, the government decided to court the opposition to get the measure passed in a special session of Parliament.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the Congress-led UPA was "rubbing salt on the wounds of people battling with price hike. After ten years, the government at Delhi has thought about the poor, we doubt their intentions."
Left parties, which have been opposing the passage of the legislation in its present form, also want the bill to be debated and passed by Parliament.
CPI(M) has already moved several amendments to seek universalisation of public distribution system and food security for the entire population.
Congress, however, said it would not rule out any option, including the ordinance route, to get the bill adopted. "We would like this bill preferably passed by Parliament, but no option is ruled out," party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.
PTI
