Subramanian Swamy terms compulsory Aadhaar 'threat to national security'

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy poses for a picture after an interview with Reuters at his residence in New Delhi, India, December 15, 2015. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo - RTX2H6O7

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy has termed compulsory Aadhaar a “threat to national security” and said that he would be writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi explaining the same.

The veteran politician took to microblogging site Twitter to express his opinion. “I am writing a letter soon to PM detailing how compulsory Aadhar is a threat to our national security. SC (Supreme Court) will I am sure strike it down,” Swamy’s tweet read.

I am writing a letter soon to PM detailing how compulsory Aadhar is a threat to our national security. SC will I am sure strike it down.

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) October 31, 2017

Swamy’s Tuesday morning tweet came after the Supreme Court of India on Monday granted asked the central government to respond to a petition that challenged linking of Aadhar with mobile numbers within four weeks.

In a separate development, the Supreme Court on Monday questioned the West Bengal government for filing a plea challenging the Centre's move to make Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits of various social welfare schemes.

The top court asked how a state can challenge the mandate of Parliament. "How can a state file such a plea. In a federal structure, how can a state file a plea challenging Parliament's mandate," a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said.

This is not the first time Swamy has spoken out against Aadhaar. In 2015, Moneylife quoted the BJP leader as saying that Aadhaar was a disaster. "Aadhaar is a disaster. It is based on existing data systems. Software is prepared by foreign companies. Aadhaar should be scrapped. Sooner or later, it is bound to happen,” Swamy had said.