The BJP today reacted sharply to prime minister's statement on the issue of distributing food grains free to the poor, saying the Supreme Court was not delving into policy making but interpreting the provision of the Constitution on right to life.
"I am amazed. Prime minister talks about policy. I would most humbly inform him that the Supreme Court has the right to interpret Right to Life as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has not talked about the policy," BJP chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told reporters here.
He was referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks that the apex court should not get into the "realm of policy formulation".
Prasad said since the government has admitted that food grains were rotting at several godowns, it would be better if it was distributed among the BPL families especially during situations like drought and flood.
"How can food grains be distributed free to an estimated 37% of the population which lives below the poverty line," the prime minister said during an interaction with editors.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj was also critical of the prime minister's remarks.
"If the government cannot distribute food grains then why are they talking about a food security bill. As for how to distribute the foodgrains, they can learn from the Chhattisgarh government. The rations are distributed on the seventh of every month and MLAs and public servants ensure it is done smoothly and fairly," Swaraj said.
The food security should be extended to APL families also, she added.
