Sanchar Saathi Row: Priyanka Chaturvedi Calls Scindia's 'Optional' Claim Half-Truth, Fears Surveillance

In this Special Report, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi dismisses Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s assurance that the Sanchar Saathi app is optional. Speaking to India Today, Chaturvedi argues that the government’s written mandate contradicts Scindia’s verbal clarification, stating, ‘It is the written words and the written words are pretty clear that it is mandated and they cannot alter, change or deny access.’ She labels the move a ‘surveillance mechanism’ and questions why a government app must be pre-loaded on smartphones, comparing it to practices in Russia. The discussion follows the Centre’s directive to manufacturers to install the app to curb cyber fraud.