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

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

621 - An Indentity to every Individual - The Hindu World

As the Government prepares to issue the first set of Universal Identifiers - “Aadhar”, predictable noises are emerging from the Left expressing opposition to the UIDAI.

So what explains this allergy of the Left to the idea of an immutable Identity to every Individual ?

Perhaps its the challenge this idea poses to their brand of politics ?

From Offstumped Archives – An Agenda for Governance where every Individual matters

Dear Friends

As I stand upto address you a billion thoughts cross my mind, 1.147 billion to be precise.

It troubles me greatly to think that any one of those 1.147 billion thoughts is any less than another.

It also troubles me greatly when every one of those 1.147 billion thoughts is given a banal label calling them “aam admi”.

When I wake up every morning and look myself in the mirror I am challenged by only one thought, how do I make every one of those 1.147 billion thoughts feel special, feel unique, feel touched and appreciated so not one of you my friends has to look yourself in the mirror and feel that you are just another “aam admi”.

I feel challenged on what I can do within my limited sphere of influence to spread this infection called Optimism so every one of those 1.147 billion Indians goes to sleep every night feeling comforted that each and every one of their voices are being heard, each and every one of their interests protected and each and every one of their aspirations fulfilled.

I feel challenged on how do I build a Tent that is big enough on its margins so every single one of these 1.147 billion thoughts finds not just room but freedom, space  and opportunity to pursue its aspirations and not a single one of the 1.1.47 billion voices ever feels excluded.

I feel challenged on how do I inspire confidence in each one these 1.1147 billion voices that the only hurdle between them and their aspirations is their own imagination in what can be.

I feel challenged on how do I restore credibility to the Institutions of the State and the Constitution so every one of these 1.147 billion voices believes that the Rule of Law works for each and every one of them and not against their individual aspirations.

As I spend every waking moment contemplating this arduous task ahead I am under no illusion of my limitations as an Individual.

But then I am comforted by the thought that I am not alone in building this big New Tent and I have 1.147 billion special friends each one of who can bring his or her own unique abilities to bear in building it.

It gives me comfort to go to sleep every night that I am not alone in dreaming big and hoping for the impossible, there are 1.147 billion dreams keeping my imagination company.

This infection called Optimism will not make Poverty go away any time soon, it will not eliminate hunger overnight, it will not erase the deep social prejudices that afflict our society and it will not eliminate all the unethical practices that have become Institutionalized in our public and private lives.

I am under no illusion on that account.

But I am unrelenting and uncompromising in my faith in this infection called Optimisim so poverty, hunger, prejudices and immorality does not come between every one of you and those 1.147 billion aspirations to prevent you from trying.

It troubles me greatly when the dominant political idea is one which lumps all of those 1.147 billion aspirations under the banality of commonness.

Every single time the State calls you an “aam admi” it expresses a lack of faith in your unique abilities.

Every single time the State claims it has an agenda that is “pro-aam admi” it admits to an utter lack of sensistivity to how special your individual aspirations can be to you.

Ever single time the State labels you as “Below the Poverty Line” or “Above the Poverty Line” it diminishes your self respect for it betrays no interest in where your individual aspirations lie.

It is my solemn assurance that in the new Big Tent the spirit of  “Antyodya” shall mean not just the last man or woman standing but every man and woman standing will find freedom and opportunity to pursue their aspirations.

It is my solemn assurance that in the new Big Tent there will be no “aam admi”, every one of the 1.147 billion will be respected and privileged as a “khaas admi” with a unique place for their needs and aspirations.

Friends, this infection called Optimisim can make us feel giddy, thinking the unthinkable and imagining the impossible but then that innate Indian trait of being rooted in reality of the present will very quickly bring us back to the ground to pose many questions.

    Is any of this practical ?

    Is it too idealistic ?

    Will I be included or excluded based on my identity ?

    What about historical wrongs against my people, will I get Justice ?

    What about my special needs as a religious minority, will I get an exception ?

    What about my Culture and Values, will it be diluted at the altar of making ammends and exceptions for others ?

Neither are these questions new and nor will I promise to give you answers that you havent heard before.

So what will be new in this Big Tent, you may ask ?

Let me tell you what will be new in this Big Tent

    If something is not practical it will not be because some bureaucrat sitting in New Delhi conjured an impractical scheme.

    If something is  too idealistic it will not be because some Delhi based Politician from the right family peddled his naivety and ignorance for ”progressive innocence”

    If someone feels excluded based on their identity it will not be because some Political Party abused its Legislative Majority to frame a discriminatory law  

    If someone feels that despite historical wrongs against their community they still dont have equal access to opportunities it will not be because a Political Party that swears by Identity blackmailed its way to secure special entitlements

    If someone feels they have special needs as a Minority it will not be because the State has limited their freedom to practice their faith in any manner

    If someone feels their Culture and Values have been diluted it will not be because the State is appeasing others or reversing discriminating against them 

Here is what will be new in the Big Tent.

Every one of your 1.147 billion voices will find expression and will influence how your destiny is shaped as power returns from New Delhi and from your State Capitals back to your Towns, Cities, Taluks and Villages.

Your freedom to pursue your aspirations will not be stifled by a remote Government sitting in Delhi or by an indifferent Bureaucracy sitting in your State Capitals.

But with that freedom will also come a responsibility to look after your community and manage the affairs of your Faith rather than abdicate it to the State at the cost of your freedom.

Friends, I will not burden you anymore with what may appear to be mere rhetoric.

Its time to Walk the Talk and build this new Big Tent and a beginning must be made.

As I commit myself to this trial by fire my thoughts go back to ancient times when our great intellectual leaders of yesteryears, the Rishis and the Munis put themselves through immense hardship in the pursuit of enlightenment.

There is no recourse to the lofty peaks of Himalayas in this 21st century Tapas. This trial by fire will be in the dust and din of this proud country we call Bharat, India, Hindustan.

Its interests will always be protected and advanced, no compromises will be made with National Interest at the altar of political opportunism or political correctness.

Every step I take in this trial by fire I shall not lose sight of the 1.147 billion aspirations that abound this proud land.

For with every one of those 1.147 billion aspirations there are perhaps 1.147 billion apprehensions on threats to our National Interest from within and from the outside.

I may not allay everyone of those apprehensions but I can assure you that I will hold myself to the highest standards of Dharma every step of the way to tell right from wrong and never forget that it is Nation first and Self last.

In closing let me say that it is not enough to call this Tent new, big and inclusive for at its heart must lie a moral compass that reminds us that at the end of the day Dharma must be upheld.

With these words I call upon you to cleanse sacred Saffron of the taint from murky politics and restore to its hallowed placed in the privacy of our homes and temples.

With these words I also call upon you to embrace the pristine white of the Shveta Chhatra as a non theocratic symbol of Dharma that will always guarantee

    Freedom to every one of the 1.147 billion Indians

    Freedom to their Communities and Faith to realize their aspirations and allay their apprehensions

by delivering Justice to All and ensuring Discrimination against none.

I call upon you to spread the infection called Optimism in this new Big Tent under the White Umbrella.

Jai Hind
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