New Delhi, 2 December (H.S.): Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Tuesday accused the opposition of misleading the public regarding the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app.

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Scindia explained that he had presented a detailed account in the House about the app’s benefits and the protection it offers to consumers. He asserted that the Sanchar Saathi app is neither a surveillance tool nor a call-monitoring system, but a citizen-participation-based safety mechanism aimed at empowering users to safeguard themselves.

“It is our responsibility to protect and assist consumers. Sanchar Saathi is both an app and a portal that enables every user to manage their own security. This is a step towards participative governance,” Scindia said, adding that citizens should welcome such initiatives instead of opposing them. He further clarified that using the app is entirely optional — “activate it if you wish, or refrain from doing so if you prefer,” he stated.

Highlighting the app’s achievements, Scindia revealed that through the Sanchar Saathi portal, authorities have deactivated around 17.5 million fraudulent mobile connections and traced nearly two million stolen phones. Approximately 750,000 stolen devices have been successfully returned to their rightful owners.

Furthermore, 2.1 million mobile numbers have been blocked based on user reports and identity verification. He added that in 2024 alone, telecom-related frauds across the country amounted to nearly Rs 22,800 crore.The minister alleged that the opposition resorts to spreading such misinformation when it lacks real issues to raise.

“The government’s responsibility is to eliminate such misconceptions, and we have presented all facts transparently before the public,” he said.Scindia emphasized that the government’s core objective is to prevent cyber fraud, fake calls, and mobile theft by curbing the misuse of telecom resources.

The app allows users to view all mobile connections issued in their names, report suspicious numbers for deactivation, block stolen phones, and verify IMEI authenticity.Meanwhile, opposition parties have criticized the initiative, alleging that the government is attempting to snoop into citizens’ personal phones under the guise of cyber security.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar