The Delhi government has asked all the city schools to submit personal details of students such and their family members, including documents such as voter ID cards, Aadhaar, and other important documents. The opposition has criticized this move as “breach of privacy”.
Sharing the circular that I received from a parent who's child studies in one of the schools in Delhi. This displays the brazen abuse of power by @ArvindKejriwal and the DOE by seeking voter ID card details of parents.
Why are champions of Right to Privacy silent? 2/n pic.twitter.com/khGlcUsIoB
— Sumeet Bhasin (मोदी का परिवार) (@sumeetbhasin) October 25, 2018
According to the Hindustan Times report, the Directorate of Education (DoE) released a circular dated September 11 which has asked the heads of schools — government, aided and recognised unaided institutions- to collect details of “not only of students but also their family members”. The circular further reads, “The details such as Aadhaar number and voter ID card must be corroborated by self-attested copies of the document.”
The directorate has given a specific format for the collection of data. The circular says, “The data collated will be shared with a private agency for verification of details, digitisation and analysis. However, teachers will maintain secrecy of documents collected as being confidential.”
It seems that it is not just a simple issue of proof of identity as other id proofs could have been asked but the Kejriwal government has specifically asked for the voter ID and Aadhaar details. A person like Arvind Kejriwal whose entire politics is based on coercion and blackmailing could exploit the data to suit his interest by strategically targeting the parents as potential voters with the use state machinery.
First let me explain why is this dangerous: They will use this data to strategically target the parents as potential voters using state machinery. It's a blatant use of the Delhi Government for their politics. Not surprised since they use the slogan "Aap ki sarkar". 3/n
— Sumeet Bhasin (मोदी का परिवार) (@sumeetbhasin) October 25, 2018
Lawyer and president of All India Parents Association (AIPA), Ashok Agarwal, also made the same point. He said that the circular is an attempt by the incumbent ruling party to exploit the data for their own political gains ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He said, “It is a clear violation of the right to privacy.”
Although, they have asked the teachers to maintain secrecy regarding the vital documents but the moot question is that will Kejriwal be able to display the same morals and ethics? It is well-known fact that Arvind Kejriwal is one of the most unprincipled politicians in Indian politics. Interestingly enough, Kejriwal was one of the crusaders against AADHAAR from the side of ‘right to privacy’. In July, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Lot of people suffering due to inability of banks to link AADHAAR with bank account. Today, Cabinet decided to delink aadhaar from widow n old age pension.”
Lot of people suffering due to inability of banks to link adhar wid bank account. Today, Cabinet decided to delink adhar from widow n age old pension
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 31, 2018
A government school teacher confirmed the news of receiving the circular, saying it will add to their work pressure as they are suppose to submit all the collected data within ten working days. The Kejriwal government has taken a complete turn from their earlier stand. Parents should protest against this diktat of Arvind Kejriwal as he is trying to breach their “right to privacy”. What’s appalling is the stoic silence maintained by the crusaders of “right to privacy” on Arvind Kejriwal’s hypocrisy. The media should vehemently raise this issue and expose Kejriwal and his hypocrisy.
