Despite objections from the opposition parties, the Centre on Monday introduced the Election Laws (Amendment Bill) 2021 to link voter ID and Aadhaar cards.
Union law minister Rijiju rejected the statements from the Opposition MPs that the Bill would violate the fundamental rights of the citizens.
Rijiju while introducing the Bill clarified that Amendment has been brought to the law only to stop bogus and fraudulent voting.
The government move was opposed by MPs from the Congress, DMK and TMC.
The shouted slogans against the NDA government by standing in the Well of the House during the introduction of the bill.
“The Bill is outside the legislative competence of the House as it violates the limits on legislation set by the Supreme Court in its judgment (Puttaswamy vs Union of India),” a media report quoted Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as saying.
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Another Congress leader, Manish Tiwari said, “The linking of voter IDs and Aadhaar violates the fundamental right to privacy as defined by the Supreme Court in the judgment.”
Speaking on the motive of the Bill, Law minister Kiren Rijiju said the Opposition MPs had misinterpreted the apex court’s verdict on the government’s move.
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AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said if the Bill becomes an Act, the central government would be able to use the details for “disenfranchising some people and profile the citizens”.
“Aadhar is for residents, voting right is for citizens,” said TMC MP Saugato Ray.
The Bill was also opposed by BSP MP Ritesh Pandey.