New Delhi: Agriculture Minister and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the backdrop of his recent controversial comments on the Food Security Act, a legislation being pushed hard by National Advisory Council headed by her.
Mr Pawar, who was accompanied by his party colleague and union minister Praful Patel, described her meeting with Mrs Gandhi as a "courtesy call".
"It was a courtesy call as we had not met Gandhi, who is also UPA Chairperson, for several months," Mr Pawar told PTI.
This is the first meeting Mr Pawar had with Mrs Gandhi after she returned from the US where she had undergone an operation a few months ago.
Mr Pawar had told a newspaper ten days ago that the government was taking a "massive burden" through the proposed Food Security Act.
Mrs Gandhi also had a meeting with Food Minister K V Thomas four days ago to discuss the steps to contain the hike in the prices of essential food items, besides reviewing progress on the proposed Food Security legislation.
After the meeting, Mr Thomas had said he apprised Mrs Gandhi about the proposed Food Bill. He is learnt to have told Mrs Gandhi that the Food Ministry would start finalising the draft bill next week.
The proposed bill aims to provide legal right to subsidised foodgrains to nearly 70 per cent of the country's population.
Mr Pawar's meeting with Mrs Gandhi came at a time when local bodies' election in Maharashtra are scheduled soon. Congress and NCP share power in the state as also at the Centre.
Mr Pawar, who was accompanied by his party colleague and union minister Praful Patel, described her meeting with Mrs Gandhi as a "courtesy call".
"It was a courtesy call as we had not met Gandhi, who is also UPA Chairperson, for several months," Mr Pawar told PTI.
This is the first meeting Mr Pawar had with Mrs Gandhi after she returned from the US where she had undergone an operation a few months ago.
Mr Pawar had told a newspaper ten days ago that the government was taking a "massive burden" through the proposed Food Security Act.
Mrs Gandhi also had a meeting with Food Minister K V Thomas four days ago to discuss the steps to contain the hike in the prices of essential food items, besides reviewing progress on the proposed Food Security legislation.
After the meeting, Mr Thomas had said he apprised Mrs Gandhi about the proposed Food Bill. He is learnt to have told Mrs Gandhi that the Food Ministry would start finalising the draft bill next week.
The proposed bill aims to provide legal right to subsidised foodgrains to nearly 70 per cent of the country's population.
Mr Pawar's meeting with Mrs Gandhi came at a time when local bodies' election in Maharashtra are scheduled soon. Congress and NCP share power in the state as also at the Centre.
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