A tribute to an attribute

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.

Can an apolitical group contest and win elections, and govern the nation? One group showed the way, but lost direction enroute. It would be a great tribute to the attributes of the current crop of politicians.