Panaji (Goa) The Congress party in Goa has urged Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley demanding that the government should immediately amend the Aadhar Act in order to facilitate Aadhar Cards to Indian citizens residing abroad.

In a letter to Jaitley, Goa Congress President Shantaram Naik has demanded that the Government of India should make arrangements, in all embassies, consulates and other designated places, to issue Aadhar Cards to Indian citizens residing abroad.

In a letter, Naik has expressed difficulties of Indian citizens residing abroad to obtain Aadhar Cards under The Aadhar (Targetted Delivery of Financial and other subsidies , Benefits and Services) Act 2016 as it is not practical to require the presence of Indian citizens to come down to India only for the purposes of obtaining the card.

“If Aadhar Card is not obtained in time, as per Government directives, Indian citizens not only be deprived of benefits under it but their Bank Accounts will become non- operational,” Naik said.

“In fact, even if an Indian citizens comes to India for a short period of 15 days , which some of them normally do, they will still not be able to apply for Aadhar cards for himself or herself as definition given of “residence” under section 2 (v) of the ADHAR Act, says, “ “resident” means an individual who has resided in India for a periods amounting in all to in all one hundred and eighty- two days or more in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of allocation for enrolment”,” former MP stated.

As regards requirement of Pan Cards for keeping the account of Indian citizens living abroad alive, Naik has suggested that necessary directions be given to exempt the NRIs from producing Pan cards and, instead, any other ID proofs, including a Xerox copy of the passport of the NRI, which the family members of NRIs staying in Goa, may be in possession should be accepted.