Uddhav Thackeray’s Allegations Against Sanchar Saathi App
Thackeray’s Claims
Uddhav thackeray called the Sanchar Saathi app a “new form of Pegasus.”
Accused the central government of spying on citizens under the guise of wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital safety.
Claimed the app reflects government distrust of its own people.
Alleged the app is being forcibly installed on citizens’ phones.
Stated that such surveillance methods violate democratic values and privacy rights.
Compared the app’s alleged capabilities to malware-like infiltration, similar to Pegasus
Context of the Controversy
Opposition parties have been strongly criticizing the Sanchar Saathi app.
The central government held an urgent press conference to address the concerns.
A controversial november 28 order from the Ministry of Communications asked all mobile companies to:
Pre-install the app in new devices.
Add it to existing phones through updates.
This order intensified fears of mass surveillance and data access.
Concerns Raised by Opposition
Claims that the app can read messages and access user data.
Opposition argues the government is focusing on monitoring citizens rather than addressing:
Security lapses.
The pahalgam terrorist attack in April, which killed 26 people.
Thackeray said the government is trying to divert attention from national security failures.
Suggested that changing the name of the tool does not change its surveillance intent.
Government’s Clarification
Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told parliament that:
The app cannot and will not be used for spying.
Sanchar Saathi is meant for public safety, offering optional features.
If a person is not registered on the app, it will not activate automatically.
The app can be deleted from the device.
Possibility of Policy Changes
Scindia said the ministry may amend the mandatory installation order based on public feedback.
Reiterated that the government is not pressuring anyone into surveillance.
Opposition remains unconvinced, claiming the Pegasus controversy still lacks transparency.
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