'Linking Aadhaar with bank accounts mandatory': RBI's diktat has Twitter divided

Reserve Bank of India has finally put an end to the confusion over linking of aadhaar number with bank accounts

The Reserve Bank of India has said that linking of bank accounts to bio-metric identity number Aadhaar is mandatory putting an end to the media speculation that linkage is voluntary.

In a press release, the central bank categorically stated that the requirement remained in force under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. “The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017,” it said in a statement.

The RBI also said that anti-money laundering rules announced in June 2017 have “statutory force” and banks have to implement them without awaiting further instructions.

The apex bank’s clarification came close on the heels of an RTI reply to Moneylife.in said that it has not issued any directive that makes it mandatory to link bank accounts with Aadhaar number.

Touted to be world’s largest bio-metric identity card programme, Aadhar scheme had triggered some claims that it is an infringement of privacy of citizens.

The RBI’s announcement sent micro blogging site twitter into a frenzy. While some tweeples welcomed the move, others slammed RBI’s statement dubbing it as government’s ‘obsession with gaining control’.

Here are some of the reactions:

 

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