Nitish Kumar at the news meet in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Aug. 5: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today supported the proposed food security bill, giving a breather to the UPA dispensation, facing difficulties from the Samajwadi Party on the issue.

The JD(U) has 20 MPs — only two less than the SP. The CM’s support to the bill reflects the Congress’s growing bonhomie with Nitish since the JD(U)-BJP split.

“In principle, we support the food security bill. We approve the intention behind bringing the bill in parliament,” Nitish said. He, however, clarified he had given certain suggestions on the bill to the Centre. “Some of our suggestions have been accepted, the Centre is still silent on others.”

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his weekly janata durbar, Nitish pointed out that, in the course of his meeting with Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, he had suggested setting up of an independent and transparent BPL commission to implement the mega-scheme. “I have suggested that the commission should have seven members of which five should be from rural areas. The members from rural areas will be more able to identify actual beneficiaries. The panel should also have members from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and minorities.”

The Centre was still silent on the composition of the BPL commission. He, however, clarified that he was in agreement with the “basic objectives” of the bill and, as such, his party would support it.

On reports of poisoning of hand pump waters supplied for preparing mid-day meal in schools in Saran, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts, Nitish said: “We have directed the director-general of police (DGP) and the economic offences wing to probe the matter. The IB, too, has been alerted. School monitoring committees and local chowkidars have also been asked to find out those behind such acts.”

Asked about the follow-up on the Dharmasati-Gandaman tragedy, Nitish said investigating agencies were doing their work. “Let us wait for their report,” he said.

RJD-BJP together

Nitish reiterated that the RJD and BJP were working in tandem against his government. He refused to speak on the UP government’s action against IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, saying: “I am not seized of the issue.” Asked about cabinet expansion, he said, “You’ll

know when I decide to expand it.” Referring to the BJP blaming his “weakness” in expanding the cabinet, Nitish quipped, “Why are they so anxious? If they are they should apologise for what they have done in the past two months.”