New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday dismissed the Opposition’s ‘snooping’ claim about the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app, which the government wants mandatorily pre-installed on all phones. It is meant to “provide security to users” and there is no threat to privacy, the ruling party has said.
A political row has erupted over Centre’s directive to all mobile phone manufacturers and importers to pre-install the app on every smartphone sold in India within 90 days, starting 28 November.
BJP MP and senior leader Sambit Patra told media persons at a press conference in Delhi that the “champions of misinformation” could never understand the purpose of Sanchar Saathi.
“The government does not want to snoop on the public through this app. The app cannot read your messages, and cannot listen to your calls the ones you receive or the ones you make). Sanchaar Saathi cannot reach your personal data, it cannot breach your personal data. The job of the app is to provide security to users,” he said.
LIVE: Addressing Press Conference at @BJP4India HQ, New Delhi. https://t.co/ZDcCTVPuUA
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) December 2, 2025
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Tuesday criticised the app, calling it yet another attempt to “strangulate the voice of the people”.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Sanchar Saathi app is yet another addition to the long list of attempts by the BJP to strangulate the voice of the people. Modi government’s unilateral directions to pre-load this app without taking into confidence various stakeholders and citizens is akin to dictatorship. Why does the government want to know what citizens talk with their family and friends?”
#SancharSaathi app is yet another addition to the long list of attempts by the BJP to strangulate the voice of the people.
Modi Govt's unilateral directions to preload this app without taking into confidence various stakeholders and citizens is akin to dictatorship. Why does the…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 2, 2025
In response, Patra said: “Sorry, Mr. Kharge, it is not to strangulate the voice of the people, it is for their security.”
Patra further said that the main aim of the app is to “prevent fraud, provide security, track lost or stolen mobile phones”.
“The app is like a reporter. It will report suspicious calls, fraudulent calls. It can report spam calls, and malicious links. And moments after you report such calls… the app will come into action, and save you from such fraud etc that may have happened.”
The MP added that many are asking whether the app is meant for government snooping. “Does the government want to spy on you? No. The government does not want to spy on anyone.”
Further taking a dig at the Opposition, he said that those who feel they have indulged in misdeeds through their phones will probably not use the Sanchar Saathi app.
“I challenge you, check their mobile phones. You will most likely not find the Sanchar Saathi app installed, because they are afraid. They know the truth, even though the app cannot read messages, cannot listen to calls, and cannot breach any data. But because they have wrongdoing on their minds, they keep worrying: ‘We have done so many misdeeds… if we install this app, what if we get caught?’ This fear is inside them, even though the app does none of the things they are afraid of,” he remarked.
The Union minister for communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia also sought to clarify the government’s position Tuesday, saying that the app can be deleted by the user.
“The digital security of every citizen of our country is our top priority. The Sanchar Saathi app aims to help everyone protect their privacy and stay safe from online fraud. This is a completely voluntary and democratic system—users can activate the app and enjoy its benefits if they wish, and if they don’t, they can easily delete it from their phone at any time,” he said.
However, point 7(b) of the direction issued by the Department of Telecommunication says: “Ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted.”
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal also described the move as “beyond unconstitutional”, demanding an immediate rollback.
“Big Brother cannot watch us. The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution,” he posted on X Monday night. “A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian. It is a means to watch over every movement, interaction and decision of each citizen. We reject this Direction and demand an immediate rollback.”
Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT Direction is beyond unconstitutional.
The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution.
A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a… pic.twitter.com/kx33c7fmda
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) December 1, 2025
Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader, said the mandate to make the app a permanent mobile feature is “another BIG BOSS surveillance moment”.
She posted on X: “Such shady ways to get into individual phones will be protested and opposed & if the IT Ministry thinks that instead of creating robust redressal systems it will create surveillance systems then it should be ready for a pushback!”
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)