In 2009, I became extremely concerned with the concept of Unique Identity for various reasons. Connected with many like minded highly educated people who were all concerned.
On 18th May 2010, I started this Blog to capture anything and everything I came across on the topic. This blog with its million hits is a testament to my concerns about loss of privacy and fear of the ID being misused and possible Criminal activities it could lead to.
In 2017 the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict after one of the longest hearings on any issue. I did my bit and appealed to the Supreme Court Judges too through an On Line Petition.
In 2019 the Aadhaar Legislation has been revised and passed by the two houses of the Parliament of India making it Legal. I am no Legal Eagle so my Opinion carries no weight except with people opposed to the very concept.
In 2019, this Blog now just captures on a Daily Basis list of Articles Published on anything to do with Aadhaar as obtained from Daily Google Searches and nothing more. Cannot burn the midnight candle any longer.
"In Matters of Conscience, the Law of Majority has no place"- Mahatma Gandhi
Ram Krishnaswamy
Sydney, Australia.

Aadhaar

The UIDAI has taken two successive governments in India and the entire world for a ride. It identifies nothing. It is not unique. The entire UID data has never been verified and audited. The UID cannot be used for governance, financial databases or anything. It’s use is the biggest threat to national security since independence. – Anupam Saraph 2018

When I opposed Aadhaar in 2010 , I was called a BJP stooge. In 2016 I am still opposing Aadhaar for the same reasons and I am told I am a Congress die hard. No one wants to see why I oppose Aadhaar as it is too difficult. Plus Aadhaar is FREE so why not get one ? Ram Krishnaswamy

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.-Mahatma Gandhi

In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.Mahatma Gandhi

“The invasion of privacy is of no consequence because privacy is not a fundamental right and has no meaning under Article 21. The right to privacy is not a guaranteed under the constitution, because privacy is not a fundamental right.” Article 21 of the Indian constitution refers to the right to life and liberty -Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi

“There is merit in the complaints. You are unwittingly allowing snooping, harassment and commercial exploitation. The information about an individual obtained by the UIDAI while issuing an Aadhaar card shall not be used for any other purpose, save as above, except as may be directed by a court for the purpose of criminal investigation.”-A three judge bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said in an interim order.

Legal scholar Usha Ramanathan describes UID as an inverse of sunshine laws like the Right to Information. While the RTI makes the state transparent to the citizen, the UID does the inverse: it makes the citizen transparent to the state, she says.

Good idea gone bad
I have written earlier that UID/Aadhaar was a poorly designed, unreliable and expensive solution to the really good idea of providing national identification for over a billion Indians. My petition contends that UID in its current form violates the right to privacy of a citizen, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. This is because sensitive biometric and demographic information of citizens are with enrolment agencies, registrars and sub-registrars who have no legal liability for any misuse of this data. This petition has opened up the larger discussion on privacy rights for Indians. The current Article 21 interpretation by the Supreme Court was done decades ago, before the advent of internet and today’s technology and all the new privacy challenges that have arisen as a consequence.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP Rajya Sabha

“What is Aadhaar? There is enormous confusion. That Aadhaar will identify people who are entitled for subsidy. No. Aadhaar doesn’t determine who is eligible and who isn’t,” Jairam Ramesh

But Aadhaar has been mythologised during the previous government by its creators into some technology super force that will transform governance in a miraculous manner. I even read an article recently that compared Aadhaar to some revolution and quoted a 1930s historian, Will Durant.Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP

“I know you will say that it is not mandatory. But, it is compulsorily mandatorily voluntary,” Jairam Ramesh, Rajya Saba April 2017.

August 24, 2017: The nine-judge Constitution Bench rules that right to privacy is “intrinsic to life and liberty”and is inherently protected under the various fundamental freedoms enshrined under Part III of the Indian Constitution

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the World; indeed it's the only thing that ever has"

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.” -Edward Snowden

In the Supreme Court, Meenakshi Arora, one of the senior counsel in the case, compared it to living under a general, perpetual, nation-wide criminal warrant.

Had never thought of it that way, but living in the Aadhaar universe is like living in a prison. All of us are treated like criminals with barely any rights or recourse and gatekeepers have absolute power on you and your life.

Announcing the launch of the # BreakAadhaarChainscampaign, culminating with events in multiple cities on 12th Jan. This is the last opportunity to make your voice heard before the Supreme Court hearings start on 17th Jan 2018. In collaboration with @no2uidand@rozi_roti.

UIDAI's security seems to be founded on four time tested pillars of security idiocy

1) Denial

2) Issue fiats and point finger

3) Shoot messenger

4) Bury head in sand.

God Save India

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

12945 - Updates: PM Modi enthralls Indian diaspora in Oman, talks about corruption-free, development-centric governance - India Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at the Dubai Opera House today on the second day of his UAE tour and laid the foundation stone for a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. He arrived at Oman's Muscat Sunday evening.

21:50 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking rounds of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in a battery car.


Muscat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking rounds of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in a battery car #Oman

21:29 PM IST
Next generation infrastructure is being developed in country keeping in mind the needs of 21st century. We are working towards making transportation sector co-dependent. Highway, Airway, Railway and Waterway are being integrated together according to each other needs: PM Modi in Oman
21:23 PM IST
We are providing insurance at 90 paise per day and Rs 1 per month to poor people. One doesn’t get a cup of tea in 90 paise, I know because I was a tea seller: PM Modi
21:10 PM IST
With the mantra of 'minimum government, maximum governance', we are working to make life of citizens easier: PM Narendra Modi
20:50 PM IST
I came to Oman almost ten years ago. As a Chief Minister of Gujarat, I had a visit to Africa, and during this time I passed through 'Salala'. I wanted to visit Oman from a long time and that opportunity has come today: PM Modi
20:46 PM IST
Such a diverse diaspora have assembled here in such huge numbers. I feel very fortunate and I welcome you all: PM Modi in Oman
20:39 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Muscat's Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex where he will address the Indian diaspora.
19:54 PM IST
Prime Minister Modi will be speaking from the royal box in Sultan Qaboos sports complex. The royal box is used only by Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said and PM will be first visiting dignitary who is being given this honour.
19:06 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of Oman Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmood Al-Said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of Oman Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmood Al-Said. (Photo: ANI)

18:41 PM IST
PM Narendra Modi arrived at Oman's Muscat International Airport.


#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives ceremonial reception on his arrival in Oman's Muscat.

15:27 PM IST
My government's mantra is "sabke saath, sabka vikas". With Aadhaar, 8 billion dollar worth of leakages have been plugged. There's a digital payment revolution happening in India: PM Modi
15:24 PM IST
We will have to be alert and use technology as a means to develop and not destruct: PM Modi
15:22 PM IST
Even after all the development, poverty and malnutrition have still not been eliminated. On the other side we're investing large portion of money, time and resources on missiles & bombs: PM Modi
15:19 PM IST
We need to follow the six Rs that stand for reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign and remanufacture, this will lead to rejoice meaning 'Anand': PM in Dubai
15:15 PM IST
Technology is changing at the speed of thoughts and it has empowered the common man: PM Modi
15:11 PM IST
In the last 25 years, maternal mortality went down by one-third in India and by half across the world: PM Modi
15:09 PM IST

Bharatanatyam performers charm audience at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
15:08 PM IST
PM Modi delivers keynote address at the inauguration of the World Government Summit in Dubai.
14:01 PM IST
PM Modi meets Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Emirate of Dubai Majilis Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.







PM Narendra Modi met with Vice President, PM of UAE and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum earlier in #Dubai #ModiInUAE
13:59 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sapar Isakov.
12:17 PM IST
I assure you that we will work together to bring to reality the dreams you see, here and in India: PM Narendra Modi ends address.
12:15 PM IST
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for demonetisation and GST, saying that India is now about hope.
12:13 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple project.

12:09 PM IST
India's leap in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Rankings from 142 to 100 is unprecedented. But we are not satisfied at this, we want to do better. We will do whatever it takes to make it possible. : Modi in Dubai
12:06 PM IST
Our relation with UAE is not just that of a buyer and a seller. It has become much more: PM Modi
12:03 PM IST
I believe this temple will not be only unique in terms of architecture and splendour, but will also give a message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' to people across the world: PM Modi
12:02 PM IST
I want to thank His Highness Crown Price on behalf of 125 crore Indians for the grand temple which will be constructed: PM Modi
12:00 PM IST
I thank the gulf countries which provided almost 30 lakh people from India a home like environment, away from home, here: PM Narendra Modi in Dubai
11:56 AM IST
PM Narendra Modi addresses the Indian Community in Dubai.




#WATCH Live via ANI FB from UAE: PM Narendra Modi addresses the Indian Community in Dubai 

11:50 AM IST
Mega Modi show at Dubai Opera House! PM lays foundation stone for the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.






Dubai: PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Temple project #ModiInUAE

11:43 AM IST
PM Modi arrives at the Dubai Opera House in Dubai.
11:29 AM IST
PM Modi paid tribute to war heroes at Wahat Al Karama in Abu Dhabi this morning and took a tour of the war memorial.








PM @narendramodi pays tributes at Wahat Al Karama, dedicated to UAE’s courageous soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service of UAE.






#WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Wahat Al Karama memorial. #ModiInUAE
11:27 AM IST
The prime minister will be laying the foundation stone for the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi later today. The construction of the temple is expected to be completed by 2020.




Temple Committee members presenting the temple literature to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and PM @narendramodi. This will be the first stone temple to be built in Abu Dhabi off Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway.
Indian Ambassador to UAE Navdeep Singh Suri said, "The occasion is going to be historic... because it will also see the commencement of the first Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi. We are very pleased that we have received 55,000 square metres of land near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway."
11:27 AM IST
PM Modi will interact with the massive Indian community at an event in Dubai Opera House.
11:26 AM IST
PM Modi's high-level engagements in Abu Dhabi include bilateral meetings with top UAE leaders and a keynote address at the World Government Summit in Dubai today, in which India is the guest country.
11:25 AM IST
PM Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi from Jordan on the second leg of his three-nation tour, was received by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other members of the Royal family at the airport.








Reached UAE. This visit includes a wide range of programmes which will have a positive impact on India-UAE ties. I thank HH Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the special gesture of receiving me. @MohamedBinZayed




11:23 AM IST
UAE's iconic buildings like the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame, Adnoc building and the Emirates Palace were lit up in colours of India's flag ahead of Modi's visit to the country.







Dubai: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame & ADNOC headquarters lit up in Indian flag colours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to UAE (Pictures credit- Navdeep Suri, Ambassador of India to the UAE)




11:22 AM IST
Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday as the two sides signed five agreements including a historic pact awarding a consortium of Indian oil companies 10 per cent stake in offshore oil concession.
11:16 AM IST

Soon after his arrival, Modi left for the presidential palace for a meeting with Mohammed Bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.