Shillong, August 18: The ambitious project of the Government of India to implement the ten digit national identification number called Aadhaar to each and every citizen of the country has been vehemently opposed by Meghalaya and Assam. In Meghalaya, the Meghalaya People’s Committee on Aadhaar (MPCA), Khasi Students and some church leaders have strongly opposed the implementation of Aadhaar, while large number of non-tribals have registered themselves and also received the Aadhaar numbers through some of the outlets.
The Convener of Meghalaya People’s Committee on Aadhaar, Rev. P.B.M. Basaiawmoit who is trying to publish the second edition of his book on Aadhar, while addressing a Press Conference at Shillong Press Club yesterday said during the last two years he has been trying to make the aware not to accept the Aadhaar number offered by the Government of India.
Rev. Basaiawmoit said he was surprised to see that the BJP which opposed the Aadhaar Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the then Congress led Government at the Centre, is now pushing hard to be implemented in all the states across the country. “Our organization is not forcing anyone to reject or to accept it. Our organization is opposing the implementation of Aadhaar in the state, as this project is a clear violation of the Fundamental Rights of the Indian citizens on the Right to Privacy. Rev. Basaiawmoit said the apartheid Government in South Africa, which tried to register the labourers in that country and was strongly opposed by Gandhi.
He also said informed that his organization has taken note that the Deputy Commission of West Jaintia Hills is trying hard for implementation of Aadhaar project in that district and has interpreted his own way the interim order of the Supreme Court”. On 23 September 2013, the Supreme Court of India issued an interim order saying that “no person should suffer for not getting Aadhaar” as the government cannot deny a service to a resident if she/he does not possess Aadhaar, as it is voluntary and not mandatory,” Rev. Basiawmoit said.
He also said that he would leave to the individual church leader’s understanding to interpret the Aadhaar number which also relates to their faith and belief. He also said that his organization is preparing a data based information relating to various grievances on the implementation of Aadhaar project and all these informations would be aired an appropriate time before the Supreme Court.
He also informed that his organization has made an ardent appeal before the Government of Meghalaya to exempt the state from the implementation of Aadhaar project, as the Supreme Court’s interim order has made it very clear that Aadhaar should not be made compulsory, as it is voluntary. Rev. Basaiawmoit said while the BJP led Government at the Centre is is pushing hard the implementation of Aadhaar across the country, the Assam BJP Government has urged the Centre not to implement the Aadhaar project in Assam due to the problem of illegal immigrants in the state.
