New Delhi, November 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday engaged in a war of words over the Centre’s decision to use voter ID cards, rather than Aadhaar alone, as a basis for identifying beneficiaries under Panchayati Raj schemes.
Addressing a national workshop on the Jan Yojana Abhiyaan, Lalan Singh said Aadhaar cards could be created easily and therefore would not be the sole basis for identifying beneficiaries.
Reacting to the announcement, Rahul Gandhi described it as a “conspiracy” by the Narendra Modi government. In a post on X, he questioned whether the move could eventually affect access to ration, pensions, MGNREGA, housing schemes, scholarships and reservations.
“This is not politics aimed at winning elections. It is an arrangement for stealing elections and a permanent mechanism for remaining in power,” he alleged. Gandhi added, “This is not just the theft of votes, it is the theft of rights. We will not allow this to happen.”
Lalan Singh hit back, calling Gandhi a “restless soul” and accusing him of linking every issue to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He also said the Congress leader could be awarded a PhD for twisting facts to suit his narrative.
In a video statement, the Union Minister clarified that Aadhaar alone would not determine payments to beneficiaries. He said biometric verification and Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers had also been included in the identification process.
Singh asserted that under the Modi government, beneficiaries received the full amount due to them. Referring to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, he recalled his statement that out of every Rs 100 sent for welfare, only Rs 10 reached the intended recipient, while Rs 90 went to middlemen.
The Panchayati Raj Minister said the Centre was committed to ensuring that only genuine beneficiaries in villages and panchayats received their entitled benefits, without middlemen taking advantage of the system. He also criticised Rahul Gandhi over the Congress’s electoral performance and the party’s rally at Ramlila Maidan.
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