Andhra Pradesh Congress vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji on Wednesday welcomed the Union government’s decision to withdraw its order requiring smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app, following intense criticism and privacy concerns.
In a statement, Mr. Shivaji said following widespread outrage, the Union government withdrew its decision. He said that in the same spirit, people across the country should fight against Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and also against the growing pollution levels in Delhi.
He said Congress leadership, including the party’s top leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal and others deserved appreciation for raising a strong voice against the app.
A.P. State Head of All India Professionals’ Congress (AIPC) Valluru Bhargav, meanwhile, slammed the NDA government at the Centre for ‘reducing the Indian democracy into a mockery’. In a statement, he said that a strange situation was being witnessed in the country, where instead of the citizens (voters) choosing the government, the government was choosing its voters.
Referring to the Sanchar Sathi app, he alleged it was nothing but a digital trap, which was intended to gain access to people’s privacy. He claimed that in the politician-corporate nexus under BJP rule, youth, farmers, workers and small traders were at the receiving end of the government’s apathy.
Published – December 03, 2025 11:35 pm IST
