New Delhi: The Lok Sabha altered the electoral laws and allowed linking of the Aadhaar card to the voter I-card amid massive opposition protests against the “Election Laws (Amendment) Bill” at the Parliament on Monday.
According to the opposition parties, the move to allow the seeding of the Aadhaar card with one’s voter ID or electoral card could see more non-citizens voting in India.
“Aadhaar was meant to be proof of residence, not proof of citizenship. If you are asking an Aadhar card for the voter, all you get is a document that reflects residence. You are potentially giving voting rights to non-citizens,” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was quoted as saying in the Lok Sabha by NDTV.
“Voting is a legal right. Linking of Aadhaar with voter ID is wrong,” another Congress leader Manish Tewari said.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Saugata Roy also pointed out how the Centre was interfering in the election process. “The central government is interfering in the election process. I oppose this Bill,” Roy said.
However, the government termed the opposition’s objections misguided and baseless. “The government wants to stop bogus voting and fake voting. In such a move, the opposition should support the government,” Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said.
