Oppn slams Centre for making Aadhaar mandatory

No poor will be denied their rights for lack of Aadhaar, says IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

The Opposition on Monday criticised the Centre for making Aadhaar mandatory for various schemes, even as the government insisted no poor would be deprived of subsidies for lack of the unique identification number.

During a discussion on the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Congress member Jairam Ramesh said Aadhaar had increasingly become “an instrument of exclusion”, with up to 25 per cent intended beneficiaries of government schemes not receiving benefits. “What sterilisation was to the Emergency, Aadhaar seeding is becoming to your government,” Ramesh said.

Several other opposition members, particularly Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien, highlighted the dangers of Aadhaar data being compromised or falling into the hands of the private sector. Replying to the discussion, Minister for Information Techonology and Law Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress was painting Aadhaar as a curse. “No poor shall be denied his subsidy rights at all. Be very clear about that. Whether it is mid-day meal or any other benefit, we have said that you come on Aadhaar but no denial will be there,” he said.

Prasad said Aadhaar was not invading the privacy of people. He said over 113 crore residents in India have Aadhaar and that it was safe. He said that in the last six years, the government had cancelled and blacklisted 34,000 operators who tried to pollute the system or tried to make fake Aadhaar cards. 

“Since December 2016, we have taken action against 1,000 operators,” he added.

“You need to come on Aadhaar but the benefits will not be denied to you. You can come with alternative identity proof, be it ration card, MNREGA card, driving licence or others. But please apply for Aadhaar, that is the whole essence,” he said.