Don't make Aadhaar card compulsory: CPI(M)

CPI(M) has asked the Centre to withdraw its decision to make Aadhaar cards compulsory for providing various benefits like cooking gas subsidy to people.

A resolution adopted by the state plenum of the CPI(M) here yesterday alleged that Aadhaar had been made compulsory by the Centre without having the backing of any parliamentary legislation and in disregard to the repeated rulings of the Supreme Court on the issue.

Though a bill was introduced in Parliament on the matter, the report of the Standing Committee to which it was referred had negated the salient provisions of the bill, it said.

"The decision of oil companies to make Aadhaar-linked bank account compulsory for cooking gas subsidy is unacceptable as only 25 per cent of the country's population had so far obtained the Aadhaar card. This means that the vast majority of the people are anxious whether they would continue to receive the benefits for which they are entitled," it said.

The party alleged that it is part of the government's neo-liberal policy of phasing out subsidies and welfare payments.

"The Government's decision to set a time-frame for linking the benefits with Aadhaar has caused serious concern among the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes," it said.

"The Government has been pressurising the people to open bank accounts and link them to Ahdaar card. Instead of allowing the people to open zero-balance accounts, many banks are insisting they should deposit Rs 500 to Rs 1000 to open accounts," the resolution said.