New Delhi: Amid the ongoing debate over the Sanchar Saathi app, which the government wants mandatorily pre-loaded on smartphones, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday gave a clarification that the Sanchar Saathi app is not mandatory and users can delete it easily. Scindia’s remark came a day after the Centre’s issued directives to smartphone companies ignited privacy concerns.
Responding news agency ANI question on the app, Scandia stated, “If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional.”
“It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it in their devices or not, is up to the user,” he further said.
#WATCH | Delhi | “… If you don’t want Sanchar Sathi, you can delete it. It is optional… It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it in their devices or not, is upto the user…,” says Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia. pic.twitter.com/iXzxzfrQxt
— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2025
Why Does the Center Want the Sanchar Saathi App In Smartphones?
The Central Government pitched the idea of Sanchar Saathi App in order to check the ‘genuineness’ of the smartphones and to track them if lost or stolen. However, the idea faced strong opposition from privacy activist and the Congress party who termed it a “Big Brother” move for constant surveillance of citizens.
BJP Defended The Move
Earlier in the day, BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi, defending the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) move make the app mandatory by pre-installing it on smartphones, said that the app will boost the sense of security.
Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury filed an adjournment motion notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking suspension of all other business to discuss the Sanchar Saathi issue.
“I’m from IIT, so I understand the types of cyber attacks that are taking place… This communication app will enhance people’s sense of security. Our data won’t escape, and every aspect of citizen protection that should be ensured will be digitally protected. I welcome this,” Tripathi said.
What Does The App Do?
- The Sanchar Sathi app allows users of smartphones to report fraud, spam calls and suspicious web links.
- It also helps track or block a lost phone and shows all mobile numbers registered under your name.
- The app also helps users to detect, track or block a lost/stolen phone
- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who supported several moves of the centre stated that making any app mandatory in a democracy is “troubling.”
- “I need to look more into the logic of the government. The government should explain everything to the public instead of just passing an order via media reports. We need to have a discussion where the government reports the idea behind the decision…,” Tharoor said.
- Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the Opposition is raising the issue in order to disturb the session’s proceedings.
- “All issues are important in their own right, but using them as a means to stall Parliament is not right… We will hold talks with opposition leaders. I am already in touch with them. We are not belittling their issues, but there are many issues in the country, not just one,” he said.
- The Opposition is demanding a debate on what it terms are “more people-centric issues”.
(Note: This is a developing story and further details will be added.)
