‘Centre deactivating Aadhaar cards of people in West Bengal…’: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 19 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that Central government is deactivating Aadhaar cards of people in West Bengal especially those belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities in the state.
In this regard, West Bengal Chief Minister has also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that every citizen in the State is in a state of fear on this matter.
"It is learnt that the Head Office of UIDAI 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," Mamata Banerjee wrote in her letter to Prime Minister.
West Bengal Chief Minister further stated that the such process of deactivation violates certain provisions mentioned in Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016.
"It is surprising that such a process of de-activation 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.
"Every citizen in the State is in a state of fear on this matter, I would like to know from you about the causes for such sudden action of de-activation 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?" she added.
Trinamool Congress chief further alleged that "BJP led Centre is involved in a sinister plot to deprive eligible beneficiaries of welfare schemes, conveniently timed before the Lok Sabha Elections".
"I vehemently condemn the reckless deactivation of Aadhaar cards, particularly targeting SC, ST and OBC communities in West Bengal. The Centre's unilateral decision to deactivate Aadhaar cards without any prior investigation or consultation with the State Govt is a sinister plot to deprive eligible beneficiaries of welfare schemes, conveniently timed before the Lok Sabha Elections. We are all CITIZENS of India. Every resident can avail GoWB's welfare benefits, irrespective of whether they have Aadhaar cards or not," Mamata Banerjee in a post on X said. (ANI)