The Aadhaar Amendments Bill, 2019, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, June 24, and is listed for debate today (June 27). This Bill is identical to the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha earlier this year as well the subsequently promulgated Ordinance.

While the government claims the Amendments ensure compliance with the Supreme Court judgment, the Bill in effect seeks to bypass the judgment in, for instance, allowing commercial use of Aadhaar (supposedly on a voluntary basis) by amending other laws. The Bill also includes amendments to the Telegraph Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act allowing use of Aadhaar authentication for availing mobile and banking services - it is likely that other laws will be similarly amended in due time.

Rethink Aadhaar has been reaching out to several Members of Parliament (MPs) requesting them to demand that the Bill be sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee, so as to ensure a thorough public consultation. Yet, while the government insists "Indians have accepted Aadhaar" - and enjoys numerical superiority in the Lok Sabha - we need to collectively raise our voices and denounce Aadhaar in the strongest terms, and ensure that our representatives echo us.

You can help:

By directly calling your MP - or any MP of your choice, using the contact details listed here.

By signing a petition addressed to the same MP.

By tagging your MP in a Twitter post. (Some sample tweets can be found here.)

We urge you to take action before 1pm today - Thursday, June 27.