TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Jan 8, 2018, 17:39 IST
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sinha is furious that "a journalist is hauled up for reporting alleged truth about malfunctioning & misuse of Aadhar"
- On Sunday, the UIDAI lodged an FRI against the newspaper and the reporter which published a story about the alleged data breach
- The Editors Guild of India condemned UIDAI's action, saying it was designed to "browbeat a journalist"
NEW DELHI: A furious Shatrughan Sinha tweeted today asking whether Indians are living in a Banana Republic, considering "a journalist is hauled up for reporting alleged truth about malfunctioning & misuse of Aadhar."
The actor-turned-parliamentarian, who belongs to the ruling BJP, minced no words slamming what he called the "politics of vendetta", after the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) yesterday lodged an FIR naming four people, including The Tribune newspaper and one of its reporters+ for breaking the news about the latest alleged Aadhaar data breach.
Sinha may like to know that India last year slipped three places to 136th in the World Press Freedom Index of 180 nations, compiled by 'Reporters Without Borders'.
Last week, The Tribune published a story+ saying that its reporter was sold all Aadhaar data available with UIDAI by a WhatsApp group for a paltry Rs 500. The reporter was given an ID and a password, which enabled her to access details of any Aadhaar number.
With its reputation on the line, the UIDAI, the world's largest biometric identity card scheme, first denied this could happen and then said the "case appears to be an instance of misuse."
When it filed the FIR on Sunday, it said it respects freedom of press, adding that it was duty bound to name everyone involved in the incident, including the reporter.
"It does not mean that those who are named in the report are necessarily guilty," the authority said.
That explanation didn't wash with the BJP's Sinha.
"A journalist is hauled up for reporting alleged truth about malfunctioning & misuse of Aadhar. Are we living in a Banana Republic? What kind of "justice" is this? Is there only politics of vendetta? Even public is being victimised for coming out honestly for society & the nation," tweeted Sinha.
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Shatrughan Sinha
@ ShatruganSinha
India
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Father,Actor,Politician.Current Lok Sabha MP from Patna Sahib, Bihar. Twice been Union Cabinet minister,Rajya Sabha Member, Lok Sabha Member. Senior BJP leader
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2,290
TWEETS
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A journalist is hauled up for reporting alleged truth about malfunctioning & misuse of Aadhar. Are we living in a Banana Republic? What kind of "justice" is this? Is there only politics of vendetta? Even public is being victimised for coming out honestly for society & the nation.
The Editors Guild of India condemned UIDAI's action, saying it was designed to "browbeat a journalist." And Sinha congratulated the Guild for taking this stand on the issue.
"I congratulate the Editors' Guild of India for strongly taking up this matter & going deep into this. Hope wish and pray that genuine authorities in the Govt. and the respected SC in particular will take notice & come out with swift corrective measures. Satyamevajayate! Jai Hind!," said Sinha in a second tweet.