The government's flagship National Food Security Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha after a nine-hour debate late on Monday.

The scheme, which will cover 67 percent of the population of the country, will be the world's biggest programme to fight hunger once the Rajya Sabha clears it. The Bill is expected to be taken up in the Upper House on Thursday.

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Sonia Gandhi, who had appealed to parties to support the bill, missed the vote as she had to be taken to hospital on complaints of chest pain and fever.

Gandhi had appealed to parties, rebutting criticism that India could not afford the scheme. Gandhi had dismissed concerns about funding, saying resources will have to be managed to finance the Food Bill expenses. “The question is not whether we can do it or not. We have to do it," she said.

Parties had sought over 300 amendments to the Bill; some were withdrawn, others were voted on one by one before the bill was passed by voice vote.

Gandhi also made it a point to mention that by passing the Bill, the UPA was fulfilling one of its major poll promises made in 2009. She also said that this Bill is necessary to improve the public distribution system.

Speaking for the BJP Murli Manohar Joshi demanded more people be covered under the Food Bill and called it a vote securing bill for the UPA. "The Bill says that it is universal, but it provides food to only half the population. What will the other half of the population eat? The bill should aim to guarantee food to everyone. This is not the Food Security Bill, this is a vote-securing bill," Joshi said.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also described the Bill as a poll gimmick. "The government is bringing the bill with the elections in mind. The bill has nothing for the poor," Mulayam said.

Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi, who is the main force behind the bill, could not participate in voting as she fell ill during voting on amendments and had to leave the House. She was admitted to AIIMS's intensive care unit and was later discharged.