Digital emergency? Sanchaar Saathi triggers fear of state control

By A Representative 

The Union government has faced sharp criticism  following allegations that its newly announced mobile application Sanchaar Saathi could enable large-scale surveillance of Indian citizens. The controversy grew even as journalist Bhasha Singh, in a widely circulated video statement, accused the Centre of forcing all mobile manufacturers to pre-install the app and preventing users from deleting it.

Singh claimed that the government has issued a directive making the app compulsory on every new phone sold in the country. She said, “The government has clearly ordered all mobile phone manufacturers that every phone they make must already contain the Sanchaar Saathi app.” She added, “The Sanchaar Saathi app can neither be deleted nor paused for any period of time.”

She described the initiative as an attempt to turn India into a surveillance state, asking, “This is spying on citizens, and that too by a government that already has enormous control — from Aadhaar to everything else. Then why was there any need for this spying device disguised as Sanchaar Saathi?”

The journalist alleged that the app could grant government agencies access to highly sensitive features of users’ phones, including the ability to read or modify messages, control the camera, track location, and activate functions without consent. “If the government wants, your phone can be opened without you knowing, without your permission, without your action,” she said. “The government can read all your SMS messages whenever it wishes… and could send messages without your consent.” She warned, “Your phone will no longer remain your phone.”

Singh also pointed to conflicting statements from the government and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. While the minister has said, “If you want to delete it, then delete it… it is not mandatory,” Singh argued that this contradicts the written order. “Both cannot be true at the same time,” she said.

Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly, she remarked, “Modi ji, do you not trust your family of 1.4 billion Indians even a little?” and accused the government of working like a fearful monarchy: “You have started working like a frightened king.”

Drawing comparisons with the earlier Pegasus spyware controversy, she said, “This is a direct attempt to openly install Pegasus into our phones through the front door.”

Urging viewers to think about the consequences, she asked: “Place your hand on your heart and say — why was there any need for such spying?”

The government has maintained that the app is intended to protect users from cyber fraud and phone theft, but criticism continues to grow online and in political circles, calling for greater transparency and accountability regarding data privacy and citizens’ rights.

Meanwhile, the government, through Jyotiraditya Scindia, has strongly rejected "such insinuations". Addressing Parliament, the minister claimed that the app was never meant to be a “spy tool.” He insisted that Sanchar Saathi is entirely voluntary — users can choose to not activate it or uninstall it at any time. 

He explained that the app’s purpose is to protect citizens from telecom-fraud, facilitate tracking and blocking of lost or stolen phones, and help users verify the authenticity of handsets and IMEI numbers — thus safeguarding the public against cybercrime. 

Following the widespread backlash from opposition parties, privacy advocates, and global tech companies, the government revoked the mandatory pre-installation order. From now on, Sanchar Saathi remains optional.