BJP defends Sanchar Sathi as an app that secures cellular units and customers; rejects snooping cost

The BJP on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) dismissed the allegation made by the Congress and others that the Sanchar Sathi cellular software might be used to facilitate surveillance of individuals. It mentioned the app has been designed solely to safe cellphones and their customers, to not entry private knowledge.

At a press convention, BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra mentioned the app had to this point helped detect about 1.75 crore Fraudulent cellular connections, hint near 26 lakh stolen/lacking telephones, and recuperate 7.5 lakh telephones.

He mentioned Sanchar Sathi can not learn messagestake heed to calls, or extract private knowledge from a consumer’s gadget. Responding to the considerations about compelled adoption, he reiterated the federal government’s clarification that putting in Sanchar Sathi is non-obligatory. “It may be deleted like some other app,” the BJP chief mentioned, including that solely these frightened that their malpractices could also be detected would by no means use it.

The BJP chief mentioned the app helps customers report suspicious calls, spams, and malicious hyperlinks, observe and recuperate stolen or misplaced cellphones, detect Worldwide Cell Tools Id (IMEI) duplications to be used in any felony exercise, establish cellular numbers obtained utilizing cast or stolen identities, and flag worldwide calls spoofed as native numbers. The app additionally has verified helpline numbers for banks and important providers. The app doesn’t interact in passive monitoring or any hidden background exercise, mentioned Mr. Patra.

The BJP chief mentioned the app has been developed in session with the stakeholders, in view of the rising circumstances of IMEI duplication, SIM misuse, cyber fraud, notably focusing on the elders not assured of working digital units, and crimes involving cellular numbers acquired with false identities. “Those that unfold misinformation won’t ever perceive what Sanchar Sathi is. Such critics could proceed to misrepresent the initiative, however the public should know the info,” he mentioned.

Reply to a put up by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on X towards Sanchar Sathi, Mr. Patra termed the Opposition as “Dushprachar (misinformation) Sathi”. “The app just isn’t a unilateral transfer. Within the Modi authorities, stakeholders are taken into confidence. The Congress discusses the whole lot else, however for the problems which pertain to defending democracy…,” mentioned Mr. Patra, asserting that the Congress’s allegations on the Pegasus difficulty had been dismissed within the Supreme Courtroom.

Criticizing the “behaviour” of Congress leaders in Parliament, Mr. Patra mentioned even “nursery faculty college students behave extra responsibly than Rahul Gandhi and his associates”. He mentioned the federal government is open to dialogue on all problems with public curiosity in Parliament. “There must be significant debate, not mere change of accusations,” he added.