SHILLONG: A rally organized by the Meghalaya branch of the Awaken India Movement (AIM) in front of the U Kiang Nangbah statue opposite the Shillong Civil Hospital has generated new controversy over the government's drive for compulsory Aadhaar-linking to avail welfare schemes.
The rally, which took place on Wednesday, attracted widespread attention after a minor scuffle between protesters and police officials, prompting severe criticism from civil rights organizations.
The protest was to counter the government's move to implement Aadhaar-linking for the purpose of getting essential government benefits. Speaking at the gathering, AIM Meghalaya unit chairman Banshai Marbaniang reiterated that the movement was not against the Aadhaar system per se but was against its forced implementation. "We are fighting for the people's right to decide whether or not to enroll in Aadhaar," he added.
Marbaniang pointed out several instances where people were deprived of ration supplies, scholarships, and essential services because they did not have Aadhaar cards. He strongly criticized schools for refusing admissions and scholarships to students without Aadhaar numbers and charged authorities with ignoring the difficulties encountered by economically weaker sections.
"Poor villagers are being denied food and necessities, and students are missing out on educational opportunities just because they do not have Aadhaar," Marbaniang said, appealing to the state government to honor individual choice in the issue.
North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, who was present at the rally, shared these views. He urged the state government to take up the matter with the Centre, reaffirming that Aadhaar need not be imposed on those who don't want to enroll. He told students to ask for written reasons from school authorities if Aadhaar is made compulsory for admission or scholarships.
After the rally, members of AIM tried to take a march towards the Secretariat in order to hand over a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. Police came into action and it led to a small commotion. It was later amicably sorted out with the district officials, and the memorandum was handed over to Deputy Commissioner Rosetta M. Kurbah in absence of the Chief Minister.
Addressing the media afterwards, Marbaniang cautioned against the employment of Aadhaar as an instrument of surveillance, labeling it as a threat to citizens' safety. He also quoted a Supreme Court comment suggesting the exemption of states such as Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, and Meghalaya from mandatory Aadhaar registration considering their special socio-political environments.
Following the protests, the state government has attempted to sidestep blame. Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh explained that Aadhaar linkage is a prerequisite for central government schemes. She highlighted that whereas the state had previously asked to be exempted from Aadhaar implementation, the Centre did not reply, and Aadhaar became linked to schemes such as ration cards, job cards, and the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS).
Lyngdoh added that citizens can choose whether or not to benefit from schemes but should adhere to Aadhaar norms as decided by the Union Government. She also urged dignified discussion on the subject without denigrating the state government.
While the police move at the protest area has been criticized in strong terms. Tura's Constitutional Rights Forum criticized the deployment of force on what it termed as a peaceful rally. In a letter of appeal to the Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Shillong, the body called for an unbiased investigation of the incident.
"Applying force against peaceful demonstrators is an infringement upon their rights under Article 19 of the constitution, which ensures freedom of speech and association," the forum added, calling the police action a human rights failure.
