Fake Aadhaar cards are cropping up around India with the demand for Aadhaar cards rising with regard to facilities and Aadhaar-linking becoming the new norm.
Even terror groups have been using Aadhaar cards it has been found. Illegal Bangladeshis associated with the Ansarullah Bangla Team a terror organisation have been found using fake Aadhaar cards to change their location. Maharashtra had previously warned that the group was planning to conspire against India.
The other issue is that NRIs as of now are not being issued Aadhaar cards by the government. There are many in Kerala obtaining fake Aadhaar cards. But being discovered holding a fake Aadhaar card comes with the risk of losing the NRI status and the benefits that come with it. Investigating agencies have arrested five people linked to terror groups in Pune, Mahad, and Ambarnath.
It was reported by Zee Media that there are places in Mumbai where once procure a fake card for just 200 rupees. As of now, NRIs can only get an Adhaar card if they stay in the country for 182 days. The number of emigrants in Kerala stands at 23.63 lakhs as per the Migration Survey conducted in 2014. Over 90% of the emigrants from the state reside in the Gulf. NRIs want the Aadhaar card as it will give them much access to various welfare programmes. The desperation has resulted in many seeking illegal means of getting Aadhaar cards before they are legally eligible.
UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan said doing this was a violation of the law. The law has not made a regulation that says that the Aadhaar card is mandatory for NRIs but they also need the card to avail certain services. The law it seems is still not clear to the government. Despite the Supreme Court saying that Aadhaar should only be used to get access to welfare services and is not an ID for general services. But agencies are still insisting on having an Aadhaar card for the same. It looks as if the Aadhaar card is throwing up more issues than it is solving.