Nandan Nilekani takes over as chairman of UIADI

Govt Set To Create Massive Domestic IT Opportunities Through UID

Government announcement in 2008 about establishment of a Unique Identity Authority to simplify things for all citizens hardly aroused any public interest but the recent announcement of Nandan Nilekani joining as chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India seems to have lifted the expectations from this project.

What really is UID?
UID (Unique Identification) is a project [...]

Nandan Nilekani takes over as chairman of UIADI

Nandan Nilekani took over as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIADI) here today.

Interacting with the media on the occasion, Nilekani said Unique Identification Numbers would ensure multifarious benefits by enabling different applications.

“Unique number will include personal and demographic detail of the residents. Common man will be empowered by establishing his identity across the country through a unique number,” he said.

Replying to queries, he said that data base of residents from various sources will be used for biometric identification.

“Authority will include best available technical experts from private and Government sector both,” he added.

He expressed the hope that first set of Unique Identification Numbers will be issued within the next 12-18 months.

In January, the Government of India had notified the creation of the National Authority of Unique Identity.

The ambitious plan of unique identification has been allocated Rs 100 crore in the interim budget of 2009-10.

The Unique Identification Numbers aims at eliminating the need for multiple identification mechanism prevalent across various government departments, and it will ensure that each Indian citizen will carry a permanent identifier from birth to death.

The permanent identifier which will also cover children, will help in at establishing citizenship, reducing identity related frauds, addresses security issues and prevent leakages in different government schemes.

In the beginning, the Unique Identity Number will be given to all voters who are on current electoral rolls, and gradually, the other persons including those below 18 years of age will be added to the database. Photographs and biometric data will be added to make the identification perfect. (ANI)

Kasab's statement not confession but admission of guilt: Judge

The special court trying the lone surviving terrorist in 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, MohammedAjmal Kasab, on Tuesday said the Pakistani gunman's statement pleading guilty before it was not a confession but an admission of guilt.

Judge M L Tahaliyani said Kasab's statement before the court was "broadly speaking not a confession but an admission of guilt."

Tahaliyani's observation came after Kasab concluded his version of events related to November 26 terror strikes.

In a dramatic turn of events, Kasab on Monday confessed to his involvement in the terror strikes at CST and other locations, apart from giving a detailed description of his training by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan.

Kasab was free to plead guilty at any point of time during the course of the trial, the court observed.

The court would need to verify whether Kasab was genuinely pleading his guilt as there were many charges against him, Judge Tahaliyani said.

The court could then accept or reject Kasab's statement or accept his plea and continue with the trial, the judge said.

Kasab, who was caught alive during the Mumbai attacks, had already recorded a confession before a magistrate but later withdrew it alleging it was obtained through coercion by police.

Hang Kasab publicly, says Bal Thackeray

Mumbai: Reiterating his demand that Ajmal Kasab be hanged publicly, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Thursday said the Pakistani gunman's admission of guilt in 26/11 attack case won't deter the neighbouring country from sending more terrorists into India. Those who think that

Kasab's confession is a victory are living in a fool's paradise. Kasab's confession won't stop Pakistan from sending more terrorists, Thackeray said in an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Like Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, we see the likelihood of Kasab spending the rest of his life in a jail, even if the court sentences him to death, he said.

It is our national policy to keep Kasab alive to protect Muslim sentiments, the Sena leader added.

"There is public demand that he should be hanged near the Gateway of India as that would be a befitting tribute to 26/11 Mumbai attack victims," Thackeray said

Hang me if you want, Kasab tells court

MUMBAI: Ajmal Kasab on Wednesday said he was ready to be hanged and wants no mercy from the court after the prosecution said the lone surviving gunman in the Mumbai attack
was trying to minimize his role to avoid death penalty and protect his handlers in Pakistan.

"Agar kisiko aitraaz hai...agar kisi ke dil mein shak hai ki main phansi se baachne ke liye yeh kar raha hoon toh beshak phansi ki saaza dijiye. (If anyone feels that I am confessing to escape the death penalty then the court may without doubt hang me)," Kasab(22) told special judge M L Tahilyani who adjourned the trial till Thursday.

As the judge weighed the pros and cons of the unexpected confession made by the Pakistani national on Monday admitting to his involvement in the attack, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam picked holes in his statement refusing to accept it and said he was not telling the whole truth.

"Kasab is not telling the whole truth. He has cleverly minimised his role and has done it to get lesser punishment or save his handlers in Pakistan," Nikam argued.

Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi alleged Kasab was mentally tortured in jail due to which he confessed. The Pakistani gunman, however, disagreed with his counsel and said, "Aisa koi masla nahi hai. (There is no such issue)."

Kazmi also said the court was open to ignoring Kasab's confession and that it must not delay its verdict if it accepts the statement.

Judge Tahilyani said the court had taken all precautions to ensure that the confession made was voluntary and without external influence.

The special court will give its ruling whether it would accept lone surviving gunman Mohammad Ajmal Kasab's statement admitting his guilt on Thursday.

Special Judge M L Tahilyani said that the court will give its ruling on the statement tomorrow. Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam argued that the court may accept Kasab's confession but should allow the prosecution to submit further evidence in the case, as Kasab has not made a full disclosure about his role in the terror attacks.

"The prosecution has to establish before the court why Mumbai was targeted why foreigners were attacked and has to also expose the infrastructure and operations of LeT."

He said if granted permission by the court, the prosecution would complete the trial by August-end.

Nikam also told the court that a team of experts from abroad is yet to be examined in the case.

"If the Pakistan government is serious about combating terrorism then it can use this evidence in a court there as there is a provision for the same in Pakistan's Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)," Nikam told reporters outside court.

Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi said it is up to the court to decide whether to accept the Pakistani gunman's statement.