Bangalore March 26: Thinkers came to a common conclusion that the most debated Aadhar Card Project, which went totally out of control since its genesis is a major blow to India’s sovereignty.
Noted writer Swapan Das Gupta, Justice Rama Jois, Upamanyu Hazarika, senior advocate in Supreme Court of India, Justice Puttaswamy, rtd judge of Bangalore, N Ravikumar, noted social activist and hundreds of intellectuals attended the event. The discussion was organised by Youth Against Corruption, an initiative of ABVP Bangalore.
A panel discussion on “Adhaar Card – “Threat to Sovereignty of India” was organized by Youth Against Corruption (YAC) on 26.03.2014 at Bharateeya Vidya Bhavan. Shri N Ravikumar, The National Co- convenor for YAC, while introducing the topic said that Adhaar card is an immense threat to internal security of the country. In addition to the citizens of this country, Adhaar card is being obtained at the cost ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs 5000 by foreigners, insurgents, illegal immigrants and terrorists by producing fake fingerprints, and false iris authentication. Today, Adhaar card has become a marketable commodity.
The programme was inaugurated by former chief justice of Bangalore Shri Puttaswamy. Speaking on the occasion he said that he has been protesting against the Adhaar card scheme since its inception. There is no basis for Adhaar card. The Supreme Court has announced its clear verdict against the Adhaar card today and it has been vocal against making this card mandatory for all citizens during previous occasions. But, unfortunately Government has not exercised caution before spending Rs 5000 crores for implementation of this scheme. This scheme is absolutely unconstitutional. There are no available precedents to this scheme anywhere in the world. Besides, the Indian parliament had disapproved the implementation of the scheme. It is extremely poignant that despite these objections Indian Government has gone ahead with this scheme after sidelining interests of the nation. Further, this scheme jeopardizes privacy and confidentiality of an individual and violates Article 21 of Indian constitution. Among serious concerns that are unaddressed are, when highly classified private identification details like individual’s fingerprints and iris scan are being collected, there is no clarity not only on how, the confidentiality of the collected information will be protected but, also if this information is immune to misuse. Moreover, there is ambiguity on who has the access to this information.
Popular journalist Shri. Swapan Das Gupta and Chief Guest of the programme said that the slogan ‘one country – one identity’ has remained just a slogan of UIDAI. Today innumerable illegal immigrants, foreigners, insurgents, and terrorists are becoming citizens of this country overnight by obtaining the Adhaar card. Besides, they are acquiring licence, vehicle permits, subsidies, fair price cards and other government services by producing this card. On the other hand these government services have had deficient reach to genuine poor people of the country. Moreover, massive 40% of Government money has leaked making way for rampant corruption. It is beyond logical understanding that the scheme was implemented without public or parliamentary debate and regardless of widespread opposition from the parliament and parliament sub-committee. Furthermore, foreign contract companies have access to this database or data bank and the Government does not have any control over this. In the end Shri Gupta expressed grieved that this scheme has been implemented by Shri Nandan Nilekani and the Central Government solely to create vote-bank politics.
Another Chief Guest, former Governor and Rajya sabha member, Shri Upamanyu Hazarika, while adding to the above opinion said that lakhs of illegal immigrants from countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and so on have been getting Adhaar card by producing fabricated biometric information and is therefore a great threat to our sovereignty.
Shri Rama Jois, former Governor and Rajya sabha member having graced the occasion as a chief guest cautioned the audience about the potential dangers of Adhaar card in its present form. This is because, it not only reflects mal-intentions of the government in facilitating citizen services access like food security, residential facility etc., to illegal immigrants and terrorists but, also violates articles 21 and 14 of the constitution. He recalled the moment when he opposed this scheme in Rajya Sabha and expressed sadness to the fact that his letters to the Prime minister and attorney General on this scheme have remained unanswered till now.
More than 250 people were present in the audience that included citizens, students, and teachers of Bangalore City. The programme was moderated by Dr. Jayakrishna, State convenor, Shri. Rajesh Chinchewadi, Ms Aparna Patwardhan and other prominent members of YAC.
A panel discussion on “Adhaar Card – “Threat to Sovereignty of India” was organized by Youth Against Corruption (YAC) on 26.03.2014 at Bharateeya Vidya Bhavan. Shri N Ravikumar, The National Co- convenor for YAC, while introducing the topic said that Adhaar card is an immense threat to internal security of the country. In addition to the citizens of this country, Adhaar card is being obtained at the cost ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs 5000 by foreigners, insurgents, illegal immigrants and terrorists by producing fake fingerprints, and false iris authentication. Today, Adhaar card has become a marketable commodity.
The programme was inaugurated by former chief justice of Bangalore Shri Puttaswamy. Speaking on the occasion he said that he has been protesting against the Adhaar card scheme since its inception. There is no basis for Adhaar card. The Supreme Court has announced its clear verdict against the Adhaar card today and it has been vocal against making this card mandatory for all citizens during previous occasions. But, unfortunately Government has not exercised caution before spending Rs 5000 crores for implementation of this scheme. This scheme is absolutely unconstitutional. There are no available precedents to this scheme anywhere in the world. Besides, the Indian parliament had disapproved the implementation of the scheme. It is extremely poignant that despite these objections Indian Government has gone ahead with this scheme after sidelining interests of the nation. Further, this scheme jeopardizes privacy and confidentiality of an individual and violates Article 21 of Indian constitution. Among serious concerns that are unaddressed are, when highly classified private identification details like individual’s fingerprints and iris scan are being collected, there is no clarity not only on how, the confidentiality of the collected information will be protected but, also if this information is immune to misuse. Moreover, there is ambiguity on who has the access to this information.
Popular journalist Shri. Swapan Das Gupta and Chief Guest of the programme said that the slogan ‘one country – one identity’ has remained just a slogan of UIDAI. Today innumerable illegal immigrants, foreigners, insurgents, and terrorists are becoming citizens of this country overnight by obtaining the Adhaar card. Besides, they are acquiring licence, vehicle permits, subsidies, fair price cards and other government services by producing this card. On the other hand these government services have had deficient reach to genuine poor people of the country. Moreover, massive 40% of Government money has leaked making way for rampant corruption. It is beyond logical understanding that the scheme was implemented without public or parliamentary debate and regardless of widespread opposition from the parliament and parliament sub-committee. Furthermore, foreign contract companies have access to this database or data bank and the Government does not have any control over this. In the end Shri Gupta expressed grieved that this scheme has been implemented by Shri Nandan Nilekani and the Central Government solely to create vote-bank politics.
Another Chief Guest, former Governor and Rajya sabha member, Shri Upamanyu Hazarika, while adding to the above opinion said that lakhs of illegal immigrants from countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and so on have been getting Adhaar card by producing fabricated biometric information and is therefore a great threat to our sovereignty.
Shri Rama Jois, former Governor and Rajya sabha member having graced the occasion as a chief guest cautioned the audience about the potential dangers of Adhaar card in its present form. This is because, it not only reflects mal-intentions of the government in facilitating citizen services access like food security, residential facility etc., to illegal immigrants and terrorists but, also violates articles 21 and 14 of the constitution. He recalled the moment when he opposed this scheme in Rajya Sabha and expressed sadness to the fact that his letters to the Prime minister and attorney General on this scheme have remained unanswered till now.
More than 250 people were present in the audience that included citizens, students, and teachers of Bangalore City. The programme was moderated by Dr. Jayakrishna, State convenor, Shri. Rajesh Chinchewadi, Ms Aparna Patwardhan and other prominent members of YAC.
