The more it is written about politics and politicians, the more
irritable one gets, the less sense it makes to the dispensation. It has become
disgusting to follow the national affairs in India – the Supreme Court ruling
that Aadhaar, the Uinque Identification accorded to people, is not mandatory to
secure benefits, and the government’s acknowledgement that it is not mandatory,
but just a voluntary exercise that the people may opt for (to enroll), does not
help in any way in trusting either of them.
The same SC’s order is bound to be overruled by the government through
an ordinance – the order that curbs the elected representatives’ rights – like
right to vote in a debate, for example – making the order a joke and the
judiciary a circus. Anyone wonders what “contempt of court” is? And who are the
buffoons?
Why it was mentioned as “people” who are accorded the identification
with respect to Aadhaar, and not “citizens” is that Aadhaar may be given to
anyone who provides his/her identification proof along with the proof of
residence, like a voter’s ID, lease/rent agreement, bank statement, etc. It was
once projected to be not an authenticity of citizenship. And the agents who
capture the biometrics and other data during enrollment don’t give a damn who
is sitting for the scanning! No questions asked. But, the SC has now ordered
that Aadhaar be given only to citizens! And, from the SC ruling and the
government’s acknowledgement that it is not mandatory, but voluntary, any other
mandate thought to be given to Aadhaar also is negated.
Why, in the first place, did Aadhaar, or UIDAI, come into being? Nandan
Nilkani would have been happy to be part of the IT space in general, and
Infosys in particular, specially in tough times like these, rather be accorded
a cabinet rank (with a red-beaconed car, may be!), and be the butt of the
biggest joke.
It is well known that a number of people with criminal background or
facing criminal charges contest and win elections in India. There are instances
where people while serving sentences and being behind bars have contested
elections, and have won them, too! And there isn’t much to say about the people
who have actually voted for them, either.
But to contest the apex court’s
order and reverse it by way of a parliamentary action is deplorable, to say the
least. It shows the utter contempt to the orders of the top-most court of the
nation, and the respect it wields from the same people the nation has elected
as its leaders and governors. It must be wondered what next step the SC would
now take. Or will it at all?
Unfortunately, there isn’t much the nation and its citizens could do,
as any other alternative that may be thought of may be wrought with worse
dangers – known devil is always better than an unknown demon.
And devils and demons are the making of the nation and its citizens itself,
and learn to live with the attribute of theirs – the devils and demons.
