“I will ask people to inform the portal if their Aadhaar card has been deactivated. Will give them an alternative identification card, take their photos and issue the same so that people of Bengal are not deprived of the benefits they get. Don’t worry if an Aadhaar card isn’t there. We will issue another card. We will take necessary action. If needed we will issue a separate card so that nobody is deprived of any of our social welfare schemes,” Banerjee said during a press conference at the secretariat on Monday.
“Deactivating cards just before elections… What kind of politics is this?” the Trinamool Congress chief asked. She said she was seeking legal advice on the deactivation of Aadhaar cards and would also write to the prime minister to register her protest.
Banerjee wrote to Modi that the “deactivation” of Aadhaar cards had created an environment of fear in West Bengal.
“It is learnt that the Head Office of UIDAl in New Delhi, without any field enquiry or hearing the persons and taking the State Government into confidence, has been directly issuing letters to individuals and family members informing them about the deactivation of their Aadhaar Cards under provisions of the Regulation of 28A of Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016. It is surprising that such a process of deactivation of Aadhaar Cards without any prior intimation and also without giving any opportunity of being heard to the card holders is in gross violation of the Regulation 29(1) of Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016 and also in gross violation of natural justice,” she wrote.
Banerjee also wrote that she had been receiving complaints and letters from SC/ST community representatives as a large number of people were approaching the district administrations with their grievances.
“I would like to know from you about the causes for such sudden action of deactivation of Aadhaar Cards without assigning reasons. Is it just for the sake of depriving the eligible beneficiaries of the benefit or to create a panic situation among the people at large just before the ensuing Lok Sabha Elections? I am really shocked to see such an action of deactivation of Aadhaar Cards in the State against the interest of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and the poor section of the society,” she further wrote.
Banerjee said the “intention” behind the “deactivation” of Aadhaar cards was to prepare the National Register of Citizens. “I hope Matua and SC/ST communities understand the BJP’s game plan. I have information that most of those whose cards have been deactivated are all Matuas or belong to the SC/ST communities. See how without your consent they are taking back all your rights. In Bengal, we will not allow this,” she said.
“I want to clearly say that I will not allow the NRC and detention camps in Bengal. What is their game plan and intention behind this? The Aadhaar cards of Matuas and SC/ST communities are being deactivated and the state government or district administrations were not informed,” she said.
Launching an attack on the BJP-led central government, Banerjee said, “This is a fascist conspiracy. What does the BJP do other than instigate violence? Why would people not inform the state government and visit the BJP offices? Everybody knows that the BJP is the ‘Bharatiya Janjal Party’.
She said the state government would send a team to the Election Commission of India over the issue.
Responding to a question on the Sandeshkhali unrest, Banerjee said, “The BJP has sent 395 committees in Bengal so far. They send one committee every day. CPI(M) and the Congress leaders here support them (BJP). The AITC (Trinamool Congress) is a transparent party as we take action as soon as something is reported. We do not even spare our own people. The BJP should be ashamed as Brij Bhushan is still an MP. We have set up camps to provide resolution to issues regarding land.”
Union minister blames technical fault
BJP leader and Union minister Shantanu Thakur said the people whose Aadhaar cards had been “deactivated” would get them back.
“The Union home ministry has already cleared it that the deactivation process has been stopped and those whose cards have already been deactivated will get them back. I have been given the responsibility to take applications from those people. You just need to write your name, phone number and Aadhaar number and write that it has been deactivated. I will submit it to the home ministry and the issue will be resolved. I have already said it was due to some technical fault,” Thakur said.
“I want to ask the chief minister if it is a state issue. This department is directly under the central government. You are misguiding people by making such claims,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X that all the deactivated cards would be activated again within 24 hours.
“I convey my regards & gratitudes to Hon’ble Union Home Minister; @AmitShah Ji and Hon’ble Minister of Electronics and Information Technology; @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji for reversing the Deactivation of the Aadhaar Cards by the UIDAI Ranchi Regional Office. I had spoken to both of them and also had sent a letter to Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji in this regard. They have assured me that all the Deactivated Cards will be Reactivated within 24 hours.
It seems that the Higher Level Officials and the Ministry were completely unaware of such step taken by the Regional Office at Ranchi. An investigation is likely to be conducted to unearth the truth and to ascertain whether any conspiracy was hatched before the polls.
I also appreciate the role of the Sanghadipati of the All India Matua Mahasangha and Union Minister (MOS) Shantanu Thakur for actively pursuing the matter at the highest level,” the BJP leader wrote.
“Is she trying to form a separate country by making such announcements? UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) has issued clarification that no Aadhar Card has been cancelled. I urge everyone not to believe any gossip or misinformation. The Chief Minister is unnecessarily trying to create panic. No one should be worried,” Adhikari further said.
Meanwhile, the UIDAI said no Aadhaar number had been cancelled.