Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad didn't hesitate to say he isn't in favour of linking Aadhaar with Electoral Photo-Identity Cards (EPIC) of Voters as they both are meant for different purposes. He, however, expressed the view that linking Aadhaar with Bank Accounts brings transparency in extending benefits of welfare schemes to beneficiaries. 'Former PM Rajiv Gandhi said only 15 paise of Rs 1 spent on welfare schemes reach the beneficiary. Today, If Government spends Rs 1,000, it's getting deposited directly in the bank account of the beneficiary,' he explained.
Ravi Shankar Prasad: 'Aadhaar mustn't be linked with Voter ID. EPIC Card is linked with the web portal of Election Commission, through which people receive information about their polling booth and its address. Aadhaar has got nothing to do with it. This is my personal opinion. I'm not saying it as an IT Minister'.
The Union Minister made it clear NDA Government isn't spying on Leaders or People to avoid accusations from political opponents.
Interestingly, Ravi Shankar Prasad commented Manmohan Singh's Aadhaar had no support of law but Modi's Aadhaar is backed by law with assurance on security and privacy. He informed over 80 crore mobile phones were linked to bank accounts as part of JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile Numbers) trinity.
Ravi Shankar Prasad: 'Aadhaar mustn't be linked with Voter ID. EPIC Card is linked with the web portal of Election Commission, through which people receive information about their polling booth and its address. Aadhaar has got nothing to do with it. This is my personal opinion. I'm not saying it as an IT Minister'.
The Union Minister made it clear NDA Government isn't spying on Leaders or People to avoid accusations from political opponents.
Interestingly, Ravi Shankar Prasad commented Manmohan Singh's Aadhaar had no support of law but Modi's Aadhaar is backed by law with assurance on security and privacy. He informed over 80 crore mobile phones were linked to bank accounts as part of JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile Numbers) trinity.