It is not mandatory to display your Aadhaar card to get subsidies for LPG connections, Union Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily said. He added gas supply agencies insisted that customers show their Aadhaar card only to identify illegal connections.
He was speaking at the valedictory function of the 66th All India Commerce Conference organised by Bangalore University jointly with the Indian Commerce Association here on Saturday. “As per the Supreme Court’s direction, Aadhaar card is not mandatory to get LPG subsidy. But if suppliers are asking for it, then it is only with the intention of identifying illegal connections,” he said.
Moily requested the public to cooperate with gas agencies if they were asked to furnish their Aadhaar card. “To produce or not to produce the Aadhar card while getting gas connection is left to the customers, but my request is that they cooperate as it will help the government find illegal connections,” he explained.
Referring to statistics, the Minister said that out of 14 crore LPG connections in the country, three crore were illegal. “It is really sad that the government has to spend money to help illegal connections and we want to find them,” he added.
The Vice-chancellor of Bangalore University Dr B Thimme Gowda was present at the function.