Lok Sabha passes changes to electoral laws to allow Aadhaar linking with voter ID

New Delhi: Amidst opposition protests against the 'Election Laws (Amendment Bill)', the Lok Sabha on Monday passed changes to the electoral laws to allow the linking of the Aadhaar card to the voter I-card, reports NDTV. The opposition alleged that this would enable more non-citizens to vote in the country.

Aadhaar is proof of residence and not citizenship, said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, while adding that the move will potentially give voting rights to non-citizens.

Congress leader Manish Tewari slammed that voting is a legal right and linking Aadhaar with voter ID is wrong.

Noting that Aadhaar cards are issued by the government to all citizens, Trinamool Congress leader Saugato Roy alleged that the central government is interfering with the election process.

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also noted that it would be a 'big mistake' to link Aadhaar cards with voter IDs. He alleged that it would weaken democracy and the rights of citizens. While around 8 per cent of discrepancies have been found in Aadhaar cards, only 3 to 4 per cent errors have been found in electoral rolls, he said. A large number of people will lose the right to vote if the Bill is passed, he warned.

The changes were passed amidst Opposition MP's objection to the proposed election reforms and sloganeering for the suspension of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni as his son Ashish Mishra stands accused of running over and killing four farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri.

Calling the opposition's objections 'misguided' and 'baseless', Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the opposition should support the government for it wants to stop bogus voting and fake voting.

The house was adjourned for two hours as the sloganeering continued.