The Lok Sabha Monday night passed an ambitious National Food Security Bill which aims to provide heavily subsidized food to two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.

 

 

 The bill is a pet welfare legislation of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was taken ill during the eight hours long debate and was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here for observation.

 

 In a speech heard in silence in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi, 66, declared: "The food bill is meant for the less fortunate sections of our society. It is a historic step to eradicate hunger. 

 

 "It is time to send out a big message that India can take the responsibility of ensuring food security for all its citizens," she added, to loud thumping of desks by ruling coalition members.

 

 The bill, a part of the Congress election manifesto of 2009, is widely expected to be a game-changer for the ruling party as it prepares for the 2014 general election.

 

 

IANS