APDR Leads Protest Rally Demanding Delinking of Aadhaar with Bank Accounts

MehanatiIN: The protest rally organized by the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) from BBD Bag to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Kolkata brought attention to the demand for delinking Aadhaar from bank accounts. Following the rally, a protest meeting was held at Dalhousi More, where participants raised important questions regarding the mandatory Aadhaar linking and expressed concerns about privacy and cyber fraud. APDR demanded that banks take full responsibility for financial losses resulting from Aadhaar or cyber fraud. In a mass deputation held at RBI Kolkata, APDR highlighted the escalating number of fraud cases across India, with a particular emphasis on Bengal. The organization urged the RBI to address this urgent matter, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to safeguard customers' bank accounts and combat fraudulent activities effectively. Participants passionately voiced their concerns about the mandatory Aadhaar linking and its implications.

During the protest meeting held at Dalhousi More, several crucial questions were raised by the participants. One of the key queries revolved around the contradiction between the Supreme Court's ruling that Aadhaar is not mandatory and the subsequent enforcement of Aadhaar linking with bank accounts, PAN cards, and ration cards. Participants argued that individuals should not be subjected to monitoring under the guise of attachment and demanded an immediate halt to the mandatory Aadhaar linking policy.

The participants expressed apprehensions about the potential invasions of privacy resulting from the linking of Aadhaar and PAN cards. They highlighted that such linkage could enable the state to track individuals' movements and gain comprehensive access to their stored data, including the ability to monitor all expenses. The fact that bank accounts are already linked with Aadhaar was cited as a significant concern, emphasizing a lack of privacy and data security.

Another issue raised during the protest meeting was the disparity in treatment between common people and big businessmen or corporate organizations. Participants pointed out that while common people were subjected to lengthy procedures and mandatory linkages, influential entities often managed to hide their wealth in foreign banks or evade bank loan repayments with government support. This contrast was seen as an injustice, with common people suffering the consequences of additions and amendments in the name of Aadhaar while facing monetary losses.

Criticism was also directed toward the use of Aadhaar cards. While the government initially stated that Aadhaar was proof of residence and not a citizen's identity card, its widespread use in various services, ranging from obtaining a normal mobile connection to acquiring a passport, has made it functionally similar to an identity card. Concerns were raised about the potential implications of this shift, particularly in the context of the proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and National Population Register (NPR).

Furthermore, instances were highlighted where Aadhaar linking had led to the omission of over 10 lakh individuals from ration cards, supposedly in the name of improving services. The meeting participants questioned the effectiveness and fairness of such implementations, particularly when it affected vulnerable sections of society.

Concerns were expressed regarding the security of data stored by the Aadhaar organization, further adding to the skepticism surrounding the mandatory Aadhaar linking policy initiated by the government.

The protest rally and subsequent meeting organized by the APDR successfully shed light on the issues surrounding mandatory Aadhaar linking and raised pertinent questions related to privacy, monitoring, and bank fraud. The participants' demands for immediate action and the protection of individual rights echoed throughout the gathering, emphasizing the need for a thorough review of existing policies.

Written by Souvik Mukherjee