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A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, April 8: Rev Dr PBM Basaiawmoit, member, Meghalaya People’s Committee on Aadhaar (MPCA) today urged the Meghalaya government to disseminate wide information that it is voluntary and not mandatory even as he alleged that authorities are visiting villages pushing enrolment and registration for the National Population Register (NPR) by using Aadhaar.
According to Basaiawmoit the vulnerable people are being bulldozed for Aadhaar enrolment right from the age of five by using the ‘carrot and stick policy’ that unless one accepts Aadhaar enrolment, entitlement to social benefit schemes will be done away with. “It is hoped that such information is not true but if Aadhaar enrolment is being vigorously undertaken in a clandestine manner with threats and bullying tactics, it attracts contempt of court,” the MPCA said. Basaiawmoit said that the Supreme Court has limited usage of Aadhaar only on a few government schemes and benefits and that too, on a voluntary basis and not mandatory. He also said that the Supreme Court had also directed all state governments to make public announcement that Aadhaar is voluntary and not mandatory.
Basaiawmoit pointed out that the Congress has moved the Supreme Court against the Aadhaar Bill and quoted Jairam Ramesh who said that declaring the Aadhaar Bill as money Bill violates Article 110 of the Constitution.
Ramesh had also cautioned that certain clauses in the Bill could harm personal freedom as it gave sweeping powers to the government on the grounds of national security. Further, Basaiawmoit also pointed out that the Supreme Court has also constituted a Constitution Bench to decide on the issue of Right to Privacy and Aadhaar and which Bench held its first sitting on January 16 this year.
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