-The Economic Times Congress' plan to pass the food security bill in the Lok Sabha by Thursday, even if Opposition tries to block proceedings, ran into trouble after Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar insisted on a structured discussion in the House on the issue. The Congress aim was to rush through the bill, after the party rejected main opposition BJP's offer to allow passage of the bill if Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and...

-The Hindustan Times Passage of the UPA's flagship food security bill, a potential vote-winner, is at risk of being delayed with the BJP disrupting Parliament as it seeks the heads of two scandal-tainted ministers and key government ally Sharad Pawar demanding a full debate on the legislation. The food bill aims to give about two-thirds of Indians, or over 800 million people, a legal right to cheap food, and is a programme...

-The Hindu Business Line   As the food security bill awaits Parliament clearance, India fears that implementation of obligations under the Bill may lead to breach of farm subsidy limits fixed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and attract penalties if some global rules are not amended. New Delhi is, therefore, scouting for support at the WTO in seeking an amendment to the Agreement on Agriculture (AOA) to remove limits on public stockholding...

-The Hindu   A concern about the food security bill is that legal entitlement has been weakened to mean a passive right to receive whatever the state gives The hallmark of the National food security bill 2011 is that if implemented it will translate into India's first ever right to food legislation, guaranteeing food as a justiciable, legal entitlement to its people. However, in its current form, the Bill fails to evolve a...

-The Hindu   Bill represents a shift from welfare-based approach to a rights-based one:Food Minister Amid the Opposition uproar in the Lok Sabha over allegations of corruption in the UPA government, the National food security bill was taken up for consideration on Monday. When, after frequent disruptions, the House reassembled at 3 p.m., Girija Vyas, who was in the Chair, announced that the House would take up for further consideration the motion moved by...