New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS): The BJP and several other opposition parties have given notices for amendments, totalling 237, to the Food Security Bill being debated in the Rajya Sabha Monday, officials said. The government is in minority in the upper house.

The officials said that notices for amendments have been given by members from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Communist Party of India, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal-United, Samajwadi Party, AIADMK, Shiromani Akali Dal, the Trinamool Congress, and the Mizo National Front.

All are in the opposition, except the Samajwadi Party which supports the United Progressive Alliance government from outside.

The bill, seen both as a welfare and a populist move to swing votes for a beleaguered Congress in upcoming elections to state assemblies and parliament, seeks to provide highly subsidised food grain to 67 percent of population of the country.

It was passed by the Lok Sabha last week.