The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) protects people’s privacy and resident data, said Nandan Nilekani, former chairman of UIDAI and Congress candidate from Bangalore South parliamentary constituency.
Commenting on the Monday’s Supreme Court order, Nilekani said “the order is in response to a motion filed by the UIDAI itself, since the agency didn’t want to share resident data for a criminal investigation.”
“The Supreme Court upheld the position of the UIDAI. The UIDAI has always valued the privacy of resident data and the agency went to the courts to ensure that people’s privacy is protected,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nilekani has filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) and the Press Council of India (PCI) on the allegations made by BJP candidate HN Ananth Kumar.
“I have said from the beginning, that I am running a clean, honest campaign, because I stand for a better kind of politics,” Nilekani said, “I think the dirty tricks of my opponent make his desperation apparent.”
Nilekani said Ananth Kumar is trying to gain mileage, by abusing a government programme which he was himself promoting only a few months ago.
“Just a few months ago, he was advertising himself on Aadhaar enrolment banners in Bangalore South. Once I entered politics however, he began to attack the programme. He is part of the pro-corruption, anti-development forces that are trying to discredit a powerful anti-corruption effort, one that will empower ordinary citizens across the country.”
Clearing doubts about UIDAI and its use, Nilekani said the UIDAI project has spent ₹3,813 crore as of last year and not ₹50,000 crore as reported. The programme is expected to save Indian taxpayers an estimated ₹30,000 crore per year in the next few years by reducing corruption.
He said Aadhaar only gives a unique identity, not a citizenship card. Anyone residing in the country can get an Aadhaar card because the number does not guarantee citizenship. It is not a proof of citizenship.
The Aadhaar database is stored safely and securely under government control, and cannot be stolen and sold. Nilekani said though one can get an Aadhaar acknowledgement slip under a fake name, but that person’s biometrics will be linked to it. “So if you have a previous Aadhaar number, the fake Aadhaar will not be accepted by the database.”