Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday criticized the recent order of the Department of Telecommunications, calling Sanchar Sathi app a spying app. However, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, responding to this criticism, urged political parties not to create disruption in Parliament and assured that the government is ready for debate on all issues.
Speaking to ANI, Rijiju said, “They do not need to dig up issues. A list of business has been prepared, and there are many issues. We will also debate the issues raised by the opposition, and think how we have to move forward. They do not need to find new issues and disturb Parliament.”
He stressed that every concern has its own importance, but using them to disrupt Parliament proceedings is “not right.” He said, “All issues are important in their own place, but if you use these issues as a weapon to stall Parliament, then it is not right… We will talk to the opposition leaders. I am already in touch with them… We are not undermining their issues, but there are many issues in the country, not just one.”
In fact, Priyanka Gandhi had strongly criticized this decision, calling it a spying app.
He said, “This is a spying app. This is ridiculous. Citizens have the right to privacy. Everyone should have the right to privacy to send messages to their family and friends, that too without the government noticing… They are turning this country into a dictatorship in every form. Parliament is not functioning because the government is refusing to talk on any subject. It is very easy to blame the opposition.”
He said, “They are not allowing any topic to be discussed. A healthy democracy demands discussion. There is a very fine line between reporting fraud and seeing what every citizen of India is doing on their phones. It should not work like this.”
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal also criticized the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)’s instructions that make it mandatory to pre-install the Sanchar Sathi app on mobile handsets. He described it as a “wretched device” for surveillance.
The Department of Telecommunications has directed manufacturers and importers to ensure that the app is visible and accessible the first time it is used and cannot be disabled. For devices already in the market, companies have been asked to push the app through software updates.
In one post, Venugopal quoted George Orwell’s 1984 and said, “Big Brother can’t see us.” He termed these instructions as unconstitutional and alleged that users’ activities and conversations would be monitored.
According to the Telecom Ministry, the instructions issued on November 28 are aimed at protecting citizens from purchasing counterfeit handsets, ensuring easy reporting of suspected telecom misuse and improving the effectiveness of the Sanchar Sathi initiative.
The ministry said implementation should be completed within 90 days, while manufacturers will have to submit compliance reports within 120 days. The Sanchar Saathi portal and app allows users to verify the authenticity of the handset through IMEI number, report fraudulent communications or stolen devices, check mobile connections in your name and access trusted contact details of banks and financial institutions.
