Rajya Sabha din over Aadhaar for benefits

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed repeated adjournments as a vociferous Opposition protested against making Aadhaar card mandatory for availing government benefits like subsidised LPG, PDS supplies and pensions. Despite government clarifying that the UID or Aadhaar card issued to citizens was not mandatory for availing government benefits and necessary instruction to this effect were being issued, a united opposition kept shouting anti-government slogans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present in the Upper House when the opposition members including of TMC, SP, JD(U) and Congress trooped into the Well of the House, when it re-assembled at Noon for taking up Question Hour after the first adjournment but adjourned again within five minutes. The House saw three adjournments over the issue. TMC, SP and BJD had given notices in the morning for suspension of business to take up the issue which also found support from the Left parties and the Congress. However, the Chair rejected the notices.

Mr Ram Gopal Yadav said the Centre has issued instructions to state governments to stop ration card benefits, pensions and subsidised LPG to those not having Aadhaar card. He added that around 40 per cent of the population do not have Aadhaar card and the move will hit the poor hard.

Attacking the government, TMC’s Derek O’Brien said while it talks of cooperative federalism, it takes decisions without discussing with states. He said making Aadhaar mandatory will have serious repurcusions across the country.

Responding to it, Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu said the Act passed by Parliament provides that government benefits can be availed through Aadhaar cards. He said while the government government has taken note of the concerns raised by members, Aadhaar card is not compulsory.

Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said people who have not got Aadhaar have been asked to get them in next three months after which their LPG subsidy will be “parked” separately.

“It is not being cut,” he said and also informed that 85 per cent population have got Aadhaar card and the penetration can be pushed only with the effort of the state government.

SP’s Naresh Agarwal said the Centre has sent three departmental orders asking state governments to stop supply under public distribution system (PDS) to those ration card holders not having Aadhaar card, terminate their pension and subsidised LPG to those not having these cards.