Congress warns that swapping Aadhaar for Voter ID could bar millions from welfare schemes

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress party's communications general secretary, criticised a proposal to replace the Aadhaar biometric system with the voter ID card for accessing government welfare programmes. He warned that such a shift could result in a “massive scale” of exclusion, potentially denying benefits to millions of eligible citizens who lack voter registration or face errors in the electoral roll. Ramesh described the move as “haq‑huqooq chori” – a theft of citizens’ rights – and urged the government to retain Aadhaar or ensure an alternative mechanism that does not jeopardise inclusion. The party’s statement comes amid ongoing debates over privacy, data security and the role of Aadhaar in public service delivery, with the government yet to announce a definitive timeline for any change.