Chenna : Food security bill is disastrous says Dr. Subra­ma­nian Swamy

Chennai: The food security bill is disastrous and sho­uld never have been passed in Parliament, said former

law minister, Dr Subra­ma­nian Swamy of the BJP, who kept 100-odd bu­sinessmen from the Jain community in Chennai spellbou­nd with his vision for the growth of the Indian economy.

“I certainly think that any future government should scrap it,” Dr Swamy said while addressing bu­sin­essmen at a Su­nday morning meeting organised by the Chennai chapter of the Jain Intern­at­io­nal Trade Organi­sation.

Noting that Indira Gandhi had tr­ied something similar to a food security bill by nationalising wh­olesale trade in 1974, but failed miserably and denationalised it, Dr Swamy questioned how the government would buy 700 million tonnes of foodgrains and distribute it to about 83 to 84 per cent of people at 90 per cent subsidy and charge only 10 per cent of the market price.

“The government has drawn up a budget of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for implementing the food security bill. When I asked a senior Planning Com­mi­sion member about where the money would co­me from, he replied that the government would print notes. But what will happen when the prices rise next year, I asked. He answered that we still don’t know which government will be saddled with implementing it,” Dr Swamy revealed.

Talking about the growth rate of the Ind­ian economy wh­ich has reached 8 per cent from 3.5 per cent, Dr Swamy acknowledged the role played by former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

“The credit for acc­elerating growth thr­ough economic ref­orms really bel­ongs to Nara­sim­ha Rao who had the po­litical gumption to get it done. Anybody can make blueprints. But you need to practically implement it,” Dr Swamy said, add­ing that the former PM should be given the Bharat Ratna.

On future opportunities available for businessmen, Dr Sw­amy said the country sh­ould look at the area of hydrogen fuel cells. “We can’t go on dep­ending upon foreign countries for cru­de oil. We should do more research on hydrogen fuel cells and start using them for our fuel requirements,” he added. He also suggested that people look into the manufacture of solar cooking equipment and harness solar power.

Source : DC