Opposition slams Sanchar Saathi app mandate as unconstitutional, ridiculous

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, December 2, 2025:  The Congress on Tuesday strongly opposed the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) directive mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all new mobile phones, calling the order “unconstitutional” and demanding its immediate withdrawal.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra dubbed Sanchar Saathi a “snooping app” and alleged that it violates citizens’ privacy.

“It is a snooping app. It’s ridiculous. Citizens have the right to privacy — to send messages to family and friends without the government looking at everything,” she said. Accusing the Centre of turning India into a “dictatorship”, she added, “Parliament is not functioning because the government is refusing to discuss anything. A healthy democracy demands debate.”

Gandhi further argued that while cyber fraud must be addressed, surveillance is not the solution. “There’s a very fine line between reporting fraud and watching what every citizen is doing on their phone. Cybersecurity is needed, but that does not give the government an excuse to enter every citizen’s telephone,” she said.

Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal also criticised the directive, asserting that the right to privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
“Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT direction is beyond unconstitutional,” he wrote on X. Calling the mandatory pre-loaded app a “dystopian tool to monitor every Indian”, he alleged that the move is part of a “relentless assault” on citizens’ constitutional rights. The Congress demanded 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

Venugopal also posted details of the DoT order issued under the amended Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, which requires all manufacturers and importers to submit compliance reports within 120 days. Non-compliance would attract action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a more cautious view, saying such apps could be helpful if used voluntarily.

“These apps can be useful provided they are voluntary. Making anything compulsory in a democracy is troubling,” he said, adding that the government must explain the rationale behind the directive to the public.

“The government should explain its logic instead of merely issuing an order that the media reports,” Tharoor said.