Government Urges Opposition to Avoid Disruptions in Parliament Amid Criticism of Communication App
Response to Opposition Criticism
On Tuesday, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, addressed the ongoing criticism from opposition parties regarding the Communication Partner app. He urged these parties to refrain from causing disruptions in Parliament and assured that the government is open to discussions on all issues.
Speaking to a news outlet, Rijiju emphasized that there is no need for the opposition to dig for issues. A list of operational matters has been prepared, encompassing various topics. He stated that the government is willing to debate the issues raised by the opposition and is considering how to proceed. He insisted that there is no need for the opposition to seek out new issues or disrupt parliamentary proceedings.
Rijiju highlighted that while every concern holds significance, using them to obstruct parliamentary activities is inappropriate. He remarked, "All issues are important in their own right, but it is not right to weaponize them to paralyze Parliament. We will engage in dialogue with opposition leaders. I am already in contact with them... We do not underestimate their concerns, but there are multiple issues at play in the country."
Congress Criticizes Telecom Department's Order
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi criticized the recent directive from the Department of Telecommunications, which labeled the Communication Partner app as a spying tool. She described it as absurd, asserting that citizens have a right to privacy. Everyone should have the freedom to send messages to family and friends without government surveillance. She accused the government of transforming the nation into a dictatorship in various forms, claiming that Parliament is not functioning because the government refuses to discuss any topic. She stated that blaming the opposition is an easy way out, as they are not allowing discussions on any subject. A healthy democracy demands dialogue, and there is a fine line between reporting fraud and monitoring what every citizen does on their phone. This approach is unacceptable.
Further Criticism from Congress Leaders
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal also condemned the Telecom Department's instructions mandating the pre-installation of the Communication Partner app on mobile devices. He referred to it as a "dreadful tool" for surveillance. The Department has instructed manufacturers and importers to ensure that the app is visible and accessible upon first use and cannot be disabled. For devices already in the market, companies are required to promote the app through software updates. Venugopal referenced George Orwell's '1984' in a post, stating, "Big Brother is watching us." He declared these directives unconstitutional, alleging that users' activities and conversations would be monitored.