AADHAAR RELATED ARTICLES: 5281 - Nandan Nilekani: 10 Questions

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, March 11, 2014

5281 - Nandan Nilekani: 10 Questions - Financial Times

Nandan Nilekani: 10 Questions

Johnson TA | New Delhi | Updated: Mar 10 2014, 17:47 IST

SUMMARY

After joining the Congress, Nandan Nilekani spoke about his objectives and prospects...

Nandan Nilekani: I have been the founder of Infosys, I worked there for 39 years and we created lakhs of jobs. I ran the Aadhar programme which gave India 60 crore Aadhaar cards (Reuters)

After joining the Congress, Nandan Nilekani spoke about his objectives and prospects in this interview to Johnson T A:

1. On why he has joined the Congress:

I believe the Congress represents all people. It is unity in diversity. The Congress gave me the chance to do the Aadhaar card, which is my idea. My father was a Nehruvian who believed in that ideology. The Congress is going through a lot of change and I want to contribute to change.

2. On Nandan Nilekani first impression of politics since campaigning:

I have done business, urban governance, government. This is different. But I am very confident because I see a huge desire for change. People want a new person.

3. On what Nandan Nilekani sees going in his favour:

There is a mood for change: people want a new, capable person as leader. They want a leader with experience in areas other than politics. They want a local candidate. I am confident that I will be able to win these elections... I have met so many voters. People are looking for someone who will spend his life looking after Bangalore’s interests and not politicking.

4. On how Nandan Nilekani hopes to counter the corruption taint on the party:

Aadhaar is the world’s largest anti-corruption platform with 60 crore cards.

5. On what Nandan Nilekani intends to communicate to the people during his campaign:

There is a need for change, need for new people in politics, people with experience of doing things and running things. I have three big experiences. I have been the founder of Infosys, I worked there for 39 years and we created lakhs of jobs. I ran the Aadhar programme which gave India 60 crore Aadhaar cards. For five years I ran the Bangalore Agenda Task Force and got into the nitty-gritty of urban governance — toilets, solid waste management, roads. I bring all these unique experiences. I am a clean candidate and will be contacting people ethically. I am also a local candidate. I am from Bangalore South and have lived here all my life.

6. On what Nandan Nilekani has done for Bangalore:

I have done my bit for Bangalore. I was part of the BATF and did a lot of the important reforms in the city.

7. On how, as a newcomer, Nandan Nilekani intends to generate support within the local Congress:

I am willing to work with everybody — with national leaders of the Congress, the state president, the chief minister, local MLAs, corporators, block presidents, defeated candidates. I have been meeting everyone and seeking to work with them.

8. On why he chose to enter politics rather than retire:

I never thought of money as my driver. I really wanted to be of service. Six months ago I decided to join politics.

9. On changes being attempted in the Congress by Rahul Gandhi:

I know that Mr Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are very serious about changing the party. He is bringing in internal democracy and other things.

10. On the possibility of Nandan Nilekani emerging as PM candidate:

Over the next 40 days, my job is to win the Bangalore South constituency for the Congress.