New Delhi: The Election Laws Amendment Bill was passed in the Parliament’s Winter Session today amid uproar by the opposition in the Lok Sabha. Earlier this morning, a meeting was also called to end the deadlock in Parliament, but MPs of opposition parties did not participate in it. In the Election Reform Bill i.e. Election Law Bill, 2021, a provision has been made to link Aadhar cards with Voter ID cards.
Many opposition parties including Congress, TMC, AIMIM, RSP, and BSP created a ruckus in the House regarding the bill. The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021, headed by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, was passed by voice vote after a brief discussion. Congress demanded that the bill be sent to the Standing Committee of Parliament for consideration.
Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Election Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha. Through this bill, a proposal has been made to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Union Minister said in the Lok Sabha that the logic given by the opposition behind the opposition to this bill is an attempt to misrepresent the decision of the Supreme Court and this bill has been prepared in accordance with the decision of the court.
On the Congress’s demand, Rijiju said that most of the different proposals in the bill have been passed by law and recommended by the Standing Committee. He said that this bill will make the election system more simple and accessible and clean before.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned this bill and said that Aadhaar is only a proof of residence, it is not proof of citizenship. If you are asking for Aadhaar from the voter then you are getting only one document which is not the proof of citizenship but the proof of residence. He asked whether you are giving the right to vote to a non-citizen.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi told news agency ANI, “This bill violates the Supreme Court’s decision and the government has no legislative capacity to link voter ID with Aadhaar.” He said that this bill is a violation of the fundamental right to privacy as defined by the Puduswami judgment of the SC. The MP said that the House is not competent to make a law that violates the fundamental rights of citizens.
