BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad Defends Mandatory Sanchar Saathi App, Calls Opposition Outcry “Baseless Controversy”

Delhi: Senior BJP MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad strongly defended the Centre’s directive asking smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity application on all new mobile devices. Responding to criticism from the Opposition, Prasad said the app functions as a “suraksha kawach” for citizens and questioned why anyone would oppose a tool designed to enhance digital safety.

Speaking to the media, Prasad remarked, “Every mobile has many apps, but what problem do you have if there is one app that works as a ‘suraksha kawach’? A baseless controversy is being created on this.”

The senior BJP leader accused Opposition parties of manufacturing panic around the directive. He also recalled that the Opposition had tried to raise similar allegations during the previous Parliament session regarding the SIR (State Intensive Revision) process conducted in Bihar.

“They (Opposition) had raised the issue of SIR even in the last session of Parliament. They faced defeat in Bihar. Not one person among crores of voters complained that they were not allowed to vote… Congress party will never win like this,” Prasad added, asserting that the allegations of voter suppression were politically motivated.