New Delhi, Jul 5 (IANS): The opposition Friday slammed the government again over the food security ordinance that was approved by the union cabinet Wednesday, calling it a political move before elections.

"Successive governments failed repeatedly in addressing the problem of malnutrition. It is a shame. Now they are bringing this through ordinance. What were they doing for four years?" Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Brinda Karat told reporters.

"Were they sleeping all this time? Why are they blaming the opposition now?" she said.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the National Food Security Bill was a political move.

"Why did they have to pass an ordinance when Sushma (Swaraj) had said we were ready for a special session? What was the urgency to bring the ordinance? After a parliament debate, it will become a bill of food security. This is only (UPA chairperson) Sonia Gandhi's ordinance of food security," Prasad said.

"It is just a crude attempt to score political brownie points," he told TV channel Times Now.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha added that the government was to be blamed for parliament disruptions. "If parliament was adjourned, it was because of the UPA government," he said.