After MS Dhoni's Wife Sakshi Dhoni Tweets To Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Aadhaar Agency Blacklisted

New Delhi: An Aadhaar volunteer's "fan moment" after he helped prepare MS Dhoni's card has become awkward for the government at a time it is confronting many questions about the biometric identification system. The agency for which the volunteer works has been blacklisted for 10 years after the cricketer's wife, Sakshi Dhoni, pointed out that his details had been leaked. 

In a series of tweets yesterday, Sakshi Dhoni drew Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's attention to the fact that a tweet by the Common Service Centre - one of the many agencies involved in Aadhaar implementation - featured its volunteer with the former captain and also included a screenshot of his Aadhaar page, making his details public.

With the Twitter exchange redirecting media glare on the scheme amid opposition protests, Mr Prasad today asserted that "Aadhaar is fully secure". 

The I-T minister told reporters, "As far as I know, no personal information has been leaked but I have still assured his wife that we will take full care that no personal information is leaked."

In the controversial tweet that has since been deleted, the Common Service Centre had said: "Former India Cricket Captain @msdhoni updated his Aadhaar details with a home visit by a CSC VLE. A fan moment for Ahsan Ali." The minister was tagged in that post.

VLE of @CSCegov_ delivers #Aadhaar service to @msdhoni. Legendary cricketer's #Digital hook (shot). pic.twitter.com/Xe62Ta63An

- Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 28, 2017

As Sakshi Dhoni made it clear that the tweets were not ok, the minister reassured her that action would be taken.

@rsprasad @CSCegov_ is there any privacy left ??? Information of adhaar card including application is made public property!#disappointed

- Sakshi Singh (@SaakshiSRawat) March 28, 2017

@SaakshiSRawat No it is not a public property. Does this Tweet divulge any personal information?

- Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 28, 2017

@rsprasad Sir personal information filled in form is leaked !

- Sakshi Singh (@SaakshiSRawat) March 28, 2017

@SaakshiSRawat Thanks for bringing this to my notice. Sharing personal information is illegal. Serious action will be taken against this.

- Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 28, 2017

The minister said he has instructed the agency to speak to the employee who had his picture clicked with MS Dhoni and "ensure that something like this doesn't happen in future".

Ministry sources described the volunteer as a "village level entrepreneur", part of a huge matrix of centres involved in updating information for a commission.

The exchange between Sakshi Dhoni and the minister has drawn many comments on social media.

@SaakshiSRawat what do u mean by @rsprasad sir by saying ,"thanks for bringing this to my notice " when pic clearly shows u liked that tweet

- Redjohn (@WhiskeeyRiver) March 28, 2017

The Unique Identification Authority of India or UIDAI recently suspended the authentication services of Axis Bank over concerns about biometrics data being saved illegally. 

The UIDAI, which has issued 112 crore Aadhaar numbers, insists that its database is safe, a point that the government has also made forcefully in parliament.