Aadhaar Bill seeking its use as ID to open bank accounts passes in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Aadhaar and Other Laws Bill, 2019. Amid Opposition raising several objections to the proposed amendments in the bill, the Lok Sabha cleared the bill that seeks to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as an identity proof. The bill proposes to allow Aadhaar cardholders to use it as an identity proof to open bank accounts and procure mobile phone connections. The Opposition, however, rejected the government's proposed amendments and criticised the Centre during discussions to provide legal backing for voluntary seeding of biometric Aadhaar ID with mobile numbers and bank accounts. Opposing the bill, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said the government used the ordinance route to bring in the legislation.