BJP: Aadhaar decision big triumph for pro-poor Modi govt

New Delhi, Sep 26 The BJP Wednesday described the Supreme Court judgement on Aadhaar as a big triumph for the "pro-poor Modi government", saying the apex court has upheld the constitutional validity of the scheme and asserted that it doesn't violate privacy.

Bharatiya Janata Party representative Sambit Patra also hit back at the Congress after it projected the decision as a slap on the face of the ruling party, saying the order has in fact exposed the opposition party.

The Congress favoured middlemen while the Modi government brought Aadhaar to guarantee that benefits are given directly to people, he said.

That is the reason, Patra included, the Congress had moved the apex court against it.

The court has ruled that Aadhaar is safe, he said.

"We consider it to be a major triumph of the Modi government, the pro-poor Modi government. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and has also said that it doesn't violate privacy," Patra said.

He said the court has noted that Aadhaar gives strength to the poor.

The Supreme Court like the Modi government has stood with the poor of the nation, the BJP leader said.

A majority decision by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A K Sikri and A M Khanwilkar declared the Centre's flagship Aadhaar scheme constitutionally valid but struck down some of its provisions, including its linking with bank accounts, mobile phones and school admissions.

The top court said Aadhaar serves a public interest. Aadhaar means unique and it is better to be one of a kind than be the best, it said.