Beleaguered Congress Attacks Modi’s Push for Baseless Aadhaar
Congress believes that Aadhaar, which is a 12-digit individual identification number for Indians – is encroaching upon people’s privacy.
By Rakesh Raman
Congress – the main opposition party in India – which has lost its relevance in the Indian political system because of its dwindling base and directionless approach, has no other activity but to criticize PM Narendra Modi’s government.
While Congress has no plan to overcome the persisting problems – such as extreme poverty, illiteracy, unemployment – in India, the traditional party is so obsessed with Modi that today its existence is based only on Modi’s criticism.
Instead of offering its own remedies for people’s pains, Congress is trying to tell where Modi is wrong with its defective mass communications strategy and irrelevant communications written in loose English language.
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“The fact that PM Narendra Modi’s NDA controls 339 out of 545 seats in the Lok Sabha and 86 out of 245 seats in the Rajya Sabha means that it can force through legislation and constitutional amendments which degrade our fundamental rights,” Congress said today.
The party’s statement adds that it is incumbent on Congress (a.k.a. Indian National Congress) as the main party of opposition and the harbinger of India’s independence to flag up legislation by the Modi government which threatens our liberties.
Its new target is Aadhaar, which is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on behalf of the Government of India. This number serves as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India.
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Congress believes that Aadhaar is encroaching upon people’s privacy. “It was meant to give a mode of identification to those who have none, not to enable the government to track the movement of citizens at airports, our marriages, our assets, our welfare entitlements and our gold purchases with post-tax income,” Congress suggests.
The party says Aadhaar as a false idol has become more important to Modi government than the Right to Food while school children are being excluded from midday meals, and old labourers from obtaining cheap ration only because their fingerprints are not easily readable by biometric devices used for Aadhaar identification.
Congress also expressed concern over Aadhaar’s security, saying it is a cyber security hazard and is no way exempt from being mined by Modi’s industrialist cronies.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government’s National award-winning journalist. He had been associated with the United Nations (UN) through United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a digital media expert to help businesses use technology for brand marketing and business development. He also runs a free school for deserving children under his NGO – RMN Foundation.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
