Accusing the government of creating confusion on Aadhar cards, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha today questioned its "silence" on bringing a new law to give statutory status to Unique Identification Authority of India after incorporating recommendations of a Parliamentary Committee.
Sinha said almost two years have passed since the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance gave its report to the government, making certain recommendations about the Aadhar card scheme but no action seems forthcoming in this regard.
"Almost two years have elapsed since the submission of the report of the Committee. The government is yet to respond," he said.
Sinha, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, said "the government is trying to create confusion in the minds of the people about the Aadhar card scheme."
He said the Parliamentary Committee had unanimously rejected the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, in its report submitted on December 13, 2011, after the Bill was referred to it by the Rajya sabha.
"Subsequent to the presentation of the Report on the afore-mentioned Bill, the Committee had also reiterated in their successive reports on the budgetary demands for grants (2012 and 2013) of the Ministry of Planning that the government must review the provisions contained in the Bill and accordingly bring forth a fresh legislation before Parliament at the earliest, incorporating the suggestions made by the Committee," he said.
The Centre had said in the Supreme Court earlier this week that Aadhar cards being issued by UIDAI was optional and it has not made it mandatory for citizens.
The apex court, hearing pleas against decisions of some states to make Aadhar cards compulsory for a range of activities including salary, PF disbursals and marriage and property registrations, said Aadhaar card was not mandatory for availing government's services.
A day after Supreme Court said Aadhaar card was not mandatory for availing of government services, the government indicated it plans to approach the court for a "correction", but Minister of State for Planning Rajiv Shukla said it will press for the passage of the Bill in the winter session of Parliament.
