Centre vs Opposition Over Election Reforms Law In Parliament

Opposition parties said the move to allow the seeding of the Aadhaar card with one's voter ID or electoral card could lead to more non-citizens voting in the country.

Changes to the election law to allow linking of the Aadhaar card to the voter I-card raised massive protests in parliament today as soon as the government introduced the "Election Laws (Amendment) Bill. Opposition parties said the move to allow the seeding of the Aadhaar card with one's voter ID or electoral card could lead to more non-citizens voting in the country.

"Aadhaar was meant to be proof of residence, not proof of citizenship. If you are asking an Aadhar card for the voter, all you get is a document that reflects residence. You are potentially giving voting rights to non-citizens," Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said in the Lok Sabha.

"Voting is a legal right. Linking of Aadhaar with voter ID is wrong," said another Congress leader, Manish Tewari.

Trinamool Congress leader Saugato Roy, pointing out that Aadhaar cards are issued by the government to all citizens, said: "The central government is interfering in the election process. I oppose this Bill."