Lok Sabha passes Electoral Reform Bill amid opposition’s protest over Aadhaar link

New Delhi: A bill on key electoral reforms, including voluntary linking of Aadhaar with electoral identity and providing multiple dates for voter registration, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday, with the opposition seeking to refer the law to a standing committee. was done. ,

Opposition MPs said the bill was suddenly and hastily added to the Supplementary List of Businesses on Monday afternoon and passed by voice vote and MPs alleged that they were not given time to move any amendments even though they Said it was a violation of the law. On the Aadhaar Act, he has said that the bill will be strongly opposed in the Rajya Sabha, which is likely to consider it on Tuesday.

However, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the bill was a significant electoral reform and it already had the support of an all-party representative parliamentary standing committee, which had asked the government to expedite the linking of Aadhaar with electoral roles as it would Purge the electoral rolls of fraud and duplication.

On Monday morning, all opposition parties unanimously opposed the introduction of the bill, saying it should be referred to a parliamentary standing committee. Congress MP Manish Tewari said that the Aadhaar Act does not allow linking of Aadhaar with the voter list and it is used only for financial gains and distribution of such matters. Tiwari also said that it is beyond the legislative competence of the House to consider the Bill. The government has recognized that the Aadhaar Act is intended to be used for welfare and good governance thereby enabling such electoral reforms.

On the other hand, TMC said that the bill is being brought to tamper with the voter list and violate voter rights. BSP, RSP and other opposition parties also strongly opposed the bill linking Aadhaar with the voter list. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Aadhaar is only a proof of residence, not a proof of citizenship, and the move to link it with the voter list would be a violation of fundamental rights.

Responding to the MPs’ concerns, Rijiju said the bill was in the interest of the state as it would check bogus voting. He also claimed that a standing committee had already examined and discussed the bill and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, reacting to the politics of the bill, said that Bangladeshis and non-citizens should not be in the voter list.