The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Centre’s directive asking manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on mobile devices, alleging that the ruling party is extending its “surveillance” into the private lives of citizens.
In a post on X, Yadav claimed that under the BJP government, freedom of expression has already been undermined and now even private conversations within homes and families face a “vulture-like gaze.”
“Those whose history has been one of spying—how can they give up espionage? In the BJP government, freedom of expression had already been curtailed; now even personal conversations in homes, families, friendships, and businesses will come under BJP’s vulture-like gaze. People have decided they do not want this government. If BJP goes, privacy can be saved,” he wrote.
Responding to the political backlash, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that installing or activating the Sanchar Saathi app is entirely voluntary. He stressed that users have full control over whether to use or delete the app.
“If you want to activate it, do so. If you do not want to, don’t. Delete it if you wish. It is entirely your choice,” Scindia told reporters outside Parliament, urging people not to be misled by misinformation about the platform.
The minister also highlighted that the app has played a key role in preventing financial fraud worth ₹22,800 crore in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed mobile manufacturers and importers to pre-install the app on devices sold in India to promote consumer safety and curb the misuse of duplicate or tampered IMEI numbers.
Sanchar Saathi—developed under India’s Telecom Cyber Security framework—supports Android and iOS users, helping them verify device authenticity, report fraudulent activity, and strengthen overall telecom-security safeguards.
