People happily strip before white men but protest Aadhaar: BJP-Minister
In a bizarre statement, Tourism Minister KJ Alphons hit out at critics of Aadhaar yesterday, saying people have no problem "getting naked before white men" at airports abroad, but go on protests when "your own government" asks for basic details. He also dismissed reports of data leak from the Narendra Modi app, claiming the opposition has "no real issue to confront the government."
'US visa forms ask for details of two generations'
Elaborating on his stand, Alphons said, "When I went to the US I had to undergo whole body scan twice. I used the word stripping for this." Moreover, one has to "part with details of at least two generations" while filling US visa applications, but create uproar when it's their own government. "I was just pointing out the double standard of our people."
Minister's statement foolish, going to America is voluntary: Swamy responds
But senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy termed it a "foolish statement." "There is no point comparing India and America, going to America is your choice," Swamy said. Meanwhile, Alphons insisted Aadhaar data is safe. "We have given permission to only government agencies to access information."
As Alphons denies data-leak from Modi app, it changes privacy-policy
Alphons also denied reports of data leaks from the Narendra Modi app. Incidentally, after the revelations, the app quietly changed its privacy policy, something generally notified to users. Earlier, it said, "(Your information) shall not be provided to third parties in any manner without your consent." But now, it declares "certain information maybe processed by third-party services" for what it claims is better service.
Alphons' many 'foot in the mouth' moments
Alphons is known for his foot-in-the-mouth moments. In September, he drew flak after defending three-year-high fuel prices by saying people who have vehicles can afford to pay the increased costs. Earlier, he had claimed BJP doesn't issue any food code, but changed his stance when asked about the beef ban's effect on tourism: "Tourists can eat beef in their own country and come here."
