Controversy as Government Alters Stance to Link Voter ID Instead of Aadhaar Card for Welfare Schemes

According to reports received from Delhi, citing The Hindu newspaper, a political uproar has erupted over a crucial decision by the central government. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Modi government on Friday, 6 November 2026. This controversy began following a statement made by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in which it was stated that henceforth, instead of Aadhaar cards, Voter IDs (voter identity cards) will be used to identify beneficiaries for social welfare programs and schemes.

Terming this announcement as a major overarching conspiracy, Rahul Gandhi stated in a post in Hindi on the social media platform X that this is not merely vote theft, but a direct theft of rights. Calling this conspiracy very deep, he appealed to citizens to take time to understand it. He alleged that under the guise of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), lakhs of names are being deleted from the voter list, and if this process is not stopped, even more names will be removed. The Congress party has also linked this SIR process with the benefits of welfare schemes and expressed apprehension that this could deprive many genuine beneficiaries. On the other hand, CPI(M) has also strongly objected to the minister's suggestion of linking biometrics and Voter IDs to receive welfare benefits.

Rahul Gandhi further alleged that the names of those citizens who are disgruntled with the Bharatiya Janata Party are being targeted the most. According to him, voter lists should remain in the hands of an impartial Election Commission, but currently, they are in the hands of Modi government employee Gyanesh Kumar. He claimed that he has caught them red-handed with evidence regarding their collusion with the BJP in vote theft. Preparations are underway to create a list where the majority always remains with the BJP, and now this very list will determine whether citizens get the benefit of schemes or not.

Continuing his remarks, he stated that whichever citizen decided yesterday to vote the BJP out of power will have their name selectively canceled from the list. Once the name is canceled, the vote is gone, and once the vote is gone, rights are directly lost. Through this kind of arrangement, citizens will become invisible citizens of a hijacked democracy, where the public does not elect the government, but the government chooses people of its own liking. He raised the question that today these are Panchayati Raj schemes, so tomorrow will ration, pension, MGNREGA, housing, scholarships, and reservations also come under its purview?

The Congress leader alleged that this is not politics to win elections, but a system to steal elections and a permanent framework to retain power. He emphasized that voting is the right of every citizen, not a condition. A poor person's pension cannot be made subservient to their voter card. This is not just the theft of votes but the direct theft of rights and entitlements, and this situation will not be tolerated. Earlier on 5 November 2026, attacking the central government, the Congress party had stated that 'vote theft' is merely a trailer and the full movie is 'hak-hookuk chori', meaning theft of rights.

On the other hand, Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh clarified that to receive financial benefits and welfare payments under the ministry's schemes, it will now be mandatory to possess an Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number along with mandatory biometric authentication.

According to Wikipedia's background report, Rahul Gandhi is a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.