'Bill linking Aadhaar-Voter ID passed in Rajya Sabha, Opposition stages walkout'

[Sukla Sen]

That's too dangerous.

The Supreme Court, in its Aadhaar judgement, had categorically restricted its mandatory use for authentication of identity to PAN card, ITR filing and availing of any social welfare scheme run by the state.

In order to dodge it, a ridiculous fiction has been spun (ref.: <https://amp.scroll.in/article/1013270/centre-claims-linking-of-aadhaar-to-voter-id-is-voluntary-but-bill-in-parliament-contradicts-it>) that the use of Aadhaar in the subject case is voluntary!

Given the past track record (ref. <https://m.thewire.in/article/rights/lakhs-of-voters-deleted-without-proper-verification-in-andhra-telangana/amp> and <https://www.newsclick.in/aadhaar-linkage-voter-ids-eci-compromised-privacy-voters>) and a compliant EC, this provision would surely be weaponised to weed out large chunks of potential anti-BJP voters - based on their identity profiles.

Btw, beyond the outcome of the last West Bengal poll, it's yet another strong clue to suggest the regime's, as of now, lack of success to manipulate the EVMs, in any significant manner.

Hence, on top of various other dirty tricks - including the so very visibly outrageous electoral bond (ref.: <https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/lok-sabha-elections-electoral-bonds-of-secrecy-political-parties-5655406/> and <https://wap.business-standard.com/article-amp/current-affairs/ruling-bjp-bags-95-of-funds-why-there-s-an-uproar-over-electoral-bonds-119040500309_1.html>), such dogged insistence to enact this patently illegal law.

The EVM, in fact, is, quite contrary to the stupid and suicidal campaign against it, proving a major speed breaker for the regime, as the West Bengal poll graphically demonstrated.

Another noteworthy point is that the ongoing subversion of democracy has not yet been able to degrade it to the level of Russian Federation, let alone the People's Republic of China - at which point, restoration would be well-nigh impossible.

There's still some elbow room available for a pushback; that must be fully made use of.

<<Members of Congress, TMC, Left parties, DMK and NCP also walked out from the House in protest.

Members of BJP, JD(U), YSRCP, AIADMK, BJD and TMC-M supported the Bill, saying it will help in eradicating duplicate and fake voters from electoral rolls.>>

(Excerpted from: <https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/bill-linking-aadhaar-voter-id-passed-in-rajya-sabha-opposition-stages-walkout-352960>.)