The Lok Sabha on Monday started debating the food security bill, which aims to provide subsidised foodgrain at prices much below the market rate to around 67 per cent - 800 million - of India's 1.2 billion people. Moving the motion for consideration and passing of the bill, Food Minister K.V. Thomas said the welfare scheme will give nutritious food to the beneficiaries.

The bill, part of the Congress manifesto for the 2009 polls, is expected to bring electoral benefits, just as the rural job plan, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, is credited with the second term that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won in the 2009 polls. The bill will cost the government around Rs.124,723 crore. The food security bill was first introduced in parliament in December 2011. It remained with a standing committee for a year, before it was taken to the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing in the budget session that ended May 8. Later, the government brought an ordinance for the same which has been replaced by the bill being debated. Analysis: The Food Bill will cost a lot more than projected

Here are the highlights:

22.30: Lok Sabha adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11 am.



Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been admitted to AIIMS.

22.00: The Lok Sabha has approved the Food Security Bill after a protracted debate. The Bill has, however, been passed after some major amendments.



21.52: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has reportedly fallen ill, and had to leave Parliament midway during the voting on the Food Security Bill. Rahul Gandhi also accompanied his mother as she hurriedly left the House.



According to sources at her 10 Janpath residence, she had fever during the day but somehow went through with her speech. However mid way through the voting it got worse compelling her to leave the Lok Sabha in a hurry.



Sonia and Rahul Gandhi leave Parliament. Photo: PTI Sonia and Rahul Gandhi leave Parliament. Photo: PTI Congress by mistake votes for amendment moved by BJP on cash vouchers.



21.05: While voting was underway, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi left the Lok Sabha around 8.55 pm.



20.40: Lok Sabha members rejects the amendments proposed by Gurudas Gupta.



20.38: Voting on Food Bill begins in Lok Sabha



20.33: Voting on amendment moved by CPI for universal distribution of food.



20.20: Voting on Food Bill to begin shortly in Lok Sabha



19.09: Lalu calls the Food Bill sacred.

Lalu Prasad Lalu Prasad

19.07: Lalu Prasad says a law can always be improved after it has been implemented by experience but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be enacted in first place.



19.05: BJP has become a party of onion sellers. What does it know about Food Bill? asks Lalu Prasad



18.55: It's an incomplete Food Bill with no provisions for building infrastructure, says SAD



Harsimrat Kaur Harsimrat Kaur

18.16: Poor should be given food for free, not at Rs 3 per kg, says AIADMK



17.58: Food Bill must benefit all poor, says NCP



17.35: BJD says Food Bill should give flexibility to states on how to distribute foodgrain



17.27: BJD says Food Bill's targeted approach will exclude the marginalised, lead to corruption



17.22: Monsoon Session of Parliament extended till September 6.



17.16: CPI-M MP says Centre only interested in shifting burden of Food Bill to states



17.15: Don't shut the door on the face of the hungry, says CPI-M MP



17.12: DMK says Centre must take care of states on Food Bill since they run PDS

Sharad Yadav Sharad Yadav

16.34: Sharad yadav says Food Bill will fail if it does not take care of farmers' interests.



16.32: Lok Sabha members will vote on the Food Security Bill today after the debate.

16.29: Sharad Yadav says arrangement for farmers in the Food Bill is laughable. He says Food Bill won't succeed if my amendments are not implemented.

15.39: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi says:

- Food Bill will be a historic achievement for everyone.

- We have kept the poor as our top priority.

-There is a need to improve PDS and plug leakage for success of food act.

- Sonia says food bill a chance for India to take full responsibility of food security of its citizens.

- Sonia urges MPs to unanimously convert food bill into an act.

- There is a need to improve PDS and plug leakage for success of food act.

- Sonia says food bill a chance for India to take full responsibility of food security of its citizens





14.45: Present Food Bill has lot of shortcomings, it is half-baked: BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said.

- Food Bill not universal in nature, it lacks clarity.

14.11: Food minister K V Thomas begins Food Bill debate in Parliament. He says:

-PDS audits will be place in public domain.

-Bill will help plug 30% leakage in PDS.

-States will be asked to idenify the beneficiaries of the food scheme.

-Loopholes under PDS scheme have been taken care of in the Food Bill.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm.

12:30 pm: The UP government has insulted saints. There was no politics in the yatra: Yogi Adityanath.



12:25 pm: SP government has violated our constitutional rights, alleges BJP MP Yogi Adityanath.



12:22 pm: BJP is playing a communal card yet again, alleges Mulayam Singh.

12:20 pm: BJP doesn't follow the Supreme Court or the Constitution: Mulayam Singh Yadav.



12:19 pm: BJP indulged in hooliganism, targeted SP workers, says Mulayam Singh Yadav.



12:15 pm: VHP has violated a court order, common man has not supported them: Mulayam Singh.



12:13 pm: About Asaram Bapu, it is a state matter, as soon as we get more details in the case we will inform the House: Shinde.

12:11 pm: JD-U president Sharad Yadav raises Asaram Bapu issue, demands action against him.



12:10 pm: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj demands death sentence for the Mumbai gangrape accused.

12:09 pm: Government of Maharashtra will do its utmost to complete investigation and prosecute accused immediately: Shinde.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Male companion provided vital clues based on which Mumbai Police made sketches: Shinde.

12:06 pm: Statement of male companion has been recorded; forensic examination has been carried out: Shinde.

12:05 pm: All five accused in Mumbai gangrape case have been arrested, Shinde tells Lok Sabha.

11:50 am: Present Food Security Bill has a lot of shortcomings, it is half-baked: BJP.



11:40 am: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 pm after uproar over VHP yatra.



11:15 am: Lok Sabha adjourned till 11:30 am after ruckus by BJP and SP members over VHP yatra issue.

11:08 am: We will let you raise issues during Zero Hour, now sit down: Meira Kumar tells protesting MPs.



11:05 am: BJP members create ruckus in Parliament over banning VHP yatra, Rajya Sabha adjourned for 15 minutes.

11:02 am: BJP MPs Yogi Adityanath and Tarun Vijay give notice for discussion over banning VHP yatra in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively.

10:55 am: I do hope that Parliament is not disturbed and that Food Security Bill is taken up, says Kamal Nath.



10:48 am: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath Kamal Nath attacks BJP, says it always tries to disturb house proceedings.

Parliament House Parliament House BJP to raise the 84-Kosi yatra issue in both the houses of the Parliament.

10:40 am: UPA government likely to table Food Security Bill in Parliament today.

10:35 am: BJP to raise Uttar Pradesh government's crackdown on VHP yatra today.

10:30 am: BJP gives notice to suspend question hour in both the houses of Parliament over VHP's 84-Kosi Yatra.

