CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today asked the Election Commission to reiterate that Aadhaar card was not mandatory for exercise of franchise.
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, Yechury said he had "received feedback" that state election officials are collecting Aadhaar card details from voters and those who submitted them had received text messages saying they did not need to produce their electoral cards while casting vote.
This, he said, was "conveying the impression" that the EC has decided to make Aadhaar card mandatory for exercise of franchise.
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"I am requesting you to reiterate that the Aadhaar Card is not mandatory for the exercise of franchise and to ensure the sanctity of the database collected by the ECI from being possibly misused," Yechury said.
He said though the EC had some time ago clarified that Aadhaar card details are voluntary and not a compulsory requirement for being enrolled on voters list, the recent practice "seems to suggest" that the Commission has decided in making Aadhaar card as "mandatory" for exercise of franchise.
Yechury also pointed out towards a Supreme Court (SC) order which said Aadhaar card cannot be made compulsory for casting vote and said Parliament is yet to enact a legislation in this connection.
"Under these circumstances, it is indeed very strange that the electoral officers are conducting such an exercise conveying such an impression," he said.
Stating that linking details available with EC to Aadhaar card of each voter would lead to creation of "huge database", Yechury expressed fear that such data could be put to illegal use for discriminating against a section of citizens on grounds that are patently proscribed by our Constitution.
"I am sure that the Election Commission of India would not lend itself for such a gross abuse of the database it possesses of the Indian electorate through such linking up with the Aadhaar Card," he hoped.
