In RS, Oppn corners govt over Aadhaar

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 28

The Rajya Sabha today witnessed three adjournments when a united Opposition took on the government for making Aadhaar card mandatory for availing government benefits like subsidised LPG, PDS supplies and pensions.

The House finally had to be adjourned till 2 pm when the Opposition members entered into the well of the House and raised slogans.

Members of the TMC, BJD and SP had given notices for suspension of business to take up this issue which also found support from the Left parties and the Congress. The notices were rejected by the Chair.

Samajwadi Party’s Naresh Agarwal, Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien and Biju Janata Dal’s Dilip Tirkey said they had given notices under rule 267, but Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said their motion has not been permitted.

Derek O’Brien hit out at the government and said that the BJP-led government “talks of cooperative federalism but takes decisions without holding discussions with states”. Making Aadhaar mandatory will have serious repurcusions across the country, he said.

Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu made an effort to explain things to an agitated opposition and said the Act passed by Parliament provides that government benefits can be availed through Aadhaar cards.

The government, he said, had taken note of the concerns raised by members. “It (Aadhaar card) is not compulsory. If necessary, necessary instructions will be issued,” he said. His answer, however, did not satisfy the Opposition members who continued to disrupt the House which was then adjourned till 2pm.

Rs 27,570-cr trans-shipment Colachel port proposed

The deep sea trans-shipment port proposed to be developed at Colachel in Tamil Nadu will entail a cost of Rs 27,570 crore, Parliament was informed today. The aim is to develop a deep sea trans-shipment port at Colachel (Enayam) is very close to the great East-West Shipping route," Minister of State for Shipping P Radhakrishnan said in the Lok Sabha.

"As per the techno economic feasibility report (TEFR), the estimated project cost is Rs 27,570 crore. The port is proposed to be developed through investment by government and PPP mode.”

The development of the new major port at Enayam near Colachel will cover 2017-30, the minister said.  (With PTI inputs)