NEW DELHI, Jan 21 � Amidst confusion over the issue of Unique Identification Number (UID) (Aadhar) being prepared by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked the Centre to specify the time-frame within which the National Register of Indian Citizens will be ready.
BJP general secretary and chief spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad, MP, has demanded that all the issues connected with Aadhar must be clarified immediately and UIDAI should not be rushed through without addressing serious national security concerns.
The impasse has significance for illegal infiltration affected States like Assam and other North Eastern States, as UID cards are being issued without going into the citizenship issue. This has been flagged by BJP on Saturday.
There are already reports that in many parts of the country including North-east, the illegal immigrants have manipulated documents to corner benefits meant for the poor as also voting rights. The security concern remains most important. In this light, the turf war between the Planning Commission and the Home Ministry on such a sensitive issue is indeed very unfortunate, the BJP leader said.
�Is the Government taking proper measures to ensure that security issue is being addressed properly while preparing the NPR? What is the sanctity and integrity of the data being collected by the UIDAI?� asked Prasad.
Even the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance have severely criticised the UID Bill that in substance gives statutory status to the UIDAI, which means overlapping with the National Population Register (NPR) which is also engaged in collection of biometric data.
The whole concept of National Register of Indian Citizen and establishment of a National Registration Authority for this purpose is of fundamental importance. Citizens have rights and also obligations. The most important aspect is the issue of national security, when we see massive infiltration from across the border to foment trouble, terror and destabilisation in the country, Prasad said.
National security cannot be ignored in the preparation of UID being prepared by the UIDAI.
Confusion, chaos, differences and turf war have become the defining and disturbing feature of nearly all decisions of the UPA Government. The latest is the turf war between the Ministry of Home and the Planning Commission on the preparation of Unique Identification Number (UID) being undertaken by UIDAI under the overall control and supervision of the Commission.
