Government bid to snoop and create surveillance state: Opposition on Sanchar Saathi app

New Delhi: Opposition parties denounced the Centre's move to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi app in new mobile phones, terming it a prelude to creating a "surveillance state" by snooping on citizens, and demanded that the government withdraw the proposal.

"Sanchar Saathi app is yet another addition to the long list of attempts by BJP to strangulate the voice of the people. The Modi government's unilateral directions to preload 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?" said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi said he would raise the matter in the Lok Sabha.

AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said, "We had an experience of Pegasus here in India. The government is trying to put surveillance on all the people of the country through this app." Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool said, "This is totally illegal and unconstitutional. You (government) can't detect cybercrimes by entering my phone; the government has no right to know my personal mobile details."


Johan Brittas of CPI (M) said, "Sanchar Saathi app is a blatant invasion into the privacy of the people and violation of the 2017 Puttaswamy judgment of Supreme Court." NK Premachandran of RSP said, "Why is the government so eager to install such an app?... It is totally objectionable. Therefore, the government must withdraw this proposal."