New Delhi, July 9 (IANS): Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Thursday questioned the extension sought by the Gujarat government for implementing the National Food Security Act in the state.

"I have learnt that the Gujarat government has once again requested for an extension of the deadline to implement the National Food Security Act, 2013 to March 2016," Patel said in a letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

"Given that in August 2014, the Gujarat government already sought and received a one year extension, the latest request is a major setback in the efforts to ensure legally guaranteed subsidised food grain to our population," he said.

The letter said since the data from the socio-economic caste census has been released, there shouldn't any delay in meeting the revised deadline for implementation of the plan by September 2015.

"Now that the state has access to data from the socio-economic caste census, there shouldn't be any delay in meeting the revised deadline," the letter said.