Sanchar Saathi App Optional, Can Be Deleted, Clarifies Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Amid Privacy Concerns

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday clarified that the government’s Sanchar Saathi app, recently mandated to be pre-installed on all smartphones, can be deleted by users. Speaking to ANI, he said, “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 on your device or not is up to the user.”

The app is designed to verify the authenticity of mobile devices, track lost phones, report fraud, and block unsolicited communications. While the government has positioned it as a security measure, critics—including privacy activists and the Congress—have labelled it a “Big Brother” tool for constant citizen surveillance.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury has filed an adjournment motion in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the Sanchar Saathi directive. Defending the move, BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi said the app will enhance public security and protect citizens’ data, adding, “I’m from IIT, so I understand the types of cyber attacks… this communication app will enhance people’s sense of security.”

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, however, expressed concern over mandating apps in a democracy, stating, “The government should explain everything to the public instead of just passing an order via media reports. We need a discussion on the rationale behind this decision.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of using the issue to stall proceedings. “All issues are important, but using them to stall Parliament is not right… We are in touch with opposition leaders and will hold discussions,” he said.

The Sanchar Saathi debate comes amid broader parliamentary logjams, with the Opposition pushing for discussions on people-centric issues such as voter roll revisions, national security, and air pollution, while the government has not set a timeline for these topics during the ongoing winter session.