New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS): Minutes after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi spoke on the food bill, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed support for the legislation but with some reservations.

"Who will foot the financial burden for the states in implementing the bill? The centre should have convened a meeting of chief ministers on the bill before bringing it in parliament," he said as Lok Sabha discussed the legislation.

Mulayam Singh, whose party provides the crucial support from outside to the ruling UPA, said the bill would affect the interest of the farmers.

"The bill does not say that all of farmers' produce will be bought. Bring in the amendments for this," he said.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Mulayam Singh said: "The bill is aimed at elections. If they had wanted to do something for the poor, they could have done it six months back".

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Dara Singh Chauhan supported the bill saying it will help the governments address the problem of hunger in the country.

Chauhan, whose party also supports the UPA from outside, also congratulated Gandhi for speaking in Hindi.