IMPHAL, March 19: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has voiced strong support for linking Aadhaar with voter IDs, stressing the need for stringent verification procedures to ensure electoral integrity.

Singh referenced the 2019 Electoral Verification Programme in Manipur, which successfully identified and removed 67,844 fake voters from the electoral rolls, a process that revealed widespread electoral malpractices.

Among the fake voters, 24,636 were found in a single district, emphasizing the extent of the problem. Singh welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to link the Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) with Aadhaar, viewing it as a crucial step towards enhancing transparency and preventing electoral fraud. However, he also cautioned that a careful, systematic process must be employed to ensure that only legitimate Aadhaar holders are linked with voter IDs.

Singh’s remarks highlight the importance of filtering out fake Aadhaar entries, noting past instances where Aadhaar was misused to register fraudulent voters. “To protect electoral integrity, only genuine Aadhaar holders should be linked to voter IDs. A robust verification process, cross-checking government records, and on-ground scrutiny are essential to eliminate fraudulent entries while safeguarding the rights of legitimate voters,” Singh stated. His suggestions align with constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court’s stance on the necessity of electoral reforms.