Linking electoral roll to Aadhaar: Opposition objects, govt pushes bill through

[bhaigan]

The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that seeks to link electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem was passed by Lok Sabha Monday amid protests by Opposition members who raised strong objection to the Bill, saying it violates the fundamental right to privacy.

The Bill was passed via voice vote while several Opposition members stood in the Well of the House, raising slogans.Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the Bill, said, “There is also a provision to link Aadhaar with the voter ID card. It is voluntary. It is not compulsory or mandatory.” Slamming the Opposition parties, he said they have “either not read the Bill or they are opposing deliberately”.

Opposing the Bill at the introduction stage itself, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said: “I do oppose the introduction of the Bill under The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and simultaneously demand that the legislative document should be referred to the standing committee concerned for further scrutiny given the fact that this is an infringement on the fundamental right to privacy as enunciated by the Supreme Court.”

Claiming “it will lead to mass disenfranchisement” and “that’s why we are demanding that this Bill should be referred to the standing committee,” Chowdhury said that the data protection law is still not in place.

Rijiju rejected the Opposition argument that linking voter identity to Aadhaar would violate the fundamental rights of a citizen. He said the amendment Bill is to stop bogus voting and fraudulent votes. He maintained that Opposition MPs had misinterpreted the Supreme Court judgment.