Oppn obstructing Food Bill : Sonia

Alleges they are trying to destabilise country to grab power

Suratgarh (Rajasthan) (PTI): Slamming opposition parties for creating hurdles in passing of the Food Security Bill, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, on Thursday, accused them of creating instability in the country to grab power at any cost.

"I would like to tell you that a few political parties are conspiring to create instability. These kind of political forces have nothing to do with progress. They are only eyeing the chair and they want it at any cost. There is a need to be vigilant against such powers," she said addressing a rally here.

In a veiled attack on the BJP, the UPA chairperson said that they tried to create hurdles in the passing of the Food Security bill. "We (UPA) want that no one sleeps hungry. For that we wanted to bring a bill on food security but our 'virodhi' (rival) created hurdles. Had the opposition allowed the Bill in Parliament, we would have passed the Food Security Act long ago," she said and added, "But this is very sad that these Opposition parties are always opposing our public interest plans and programmes. It is now their habit to oppose every work that Congress wants to initiate and do."

Accusing some political parties of conspiring to create instability, she said that whenever there was instability, it affected the progress and development and indirectly aggravates the woes of the poor. She was speaking after laying the foundation stone of two super critical power units of 660 MW each at Suratgarh Power Station.

Maintaining that Congress was committed to the welfare and happiness of the poor, weaker sections, women and farmers, Gandhi said, "Our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is working in this direction and has taken historical decisions."