New Delhi: A political storm erupted on Monday after the Congress party sharply criticised the Centre’s decision requiring new mobile phones sold in India to come with the government’s Sanchar Saathi application pre-installed. The party called the directive “unconstitutional” and urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to withdraw it without delay.
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal, in a strongly worded statement, said the order violates the fundamental protections guaranteed to citizens. He argued that the right to privacy—affirmed as part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21—cannot be compromised through unilateral administrative mandates.
“India cannot become a surveillance state,” Venugopal wrote on X. “Forcing an undeletable government app onto every new phone amounts to building a tool that can track individuals’ movements, communications and choices. Such intrusion has no place in a democratic society.”
The Sanchar Saathi app is designed to help users verify the authenticity of their devices and identify stolen phones. But critics fear compulsory installation could open the door to potential misuse and heightened state monitoring. Venugopal characterised the directive as part of a “series of ongoing attacks” on constitutional freedoms.
The DoT order, issued under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, states that all handset makers and importers must ensure the app is pre-loaded on devices intended for the Indian market. Companies have been given 120 days to prove compliance, with penalties applicable under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and other related laws for failure to adhere.
According to the official communication, the directive takes effect immediately and will remain binding unless altered or rescinded by the government.
Opposition leaders say the move raises broader questions about digital rights, transparency and consumer choice at a time when India’s smartphone market is expanding rapidly. Industry representatives have not yet publicly reacted, but analysts expect manufacturers to seek clarity on technical and privacy implications before the compliance window closes.
Congress has vowed to oppose the directive both politically and legally, asserting that no security rationale can justify mandating software that citizens cannot remove from their own devices.
