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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Narendra Modi-led government on ‘Digital India’, saying it led to “lofty claims and unfulfilled promises”
Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia took a swipe at the Congress by unleashing a string of data. (Image: News18)
Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched a scathing attack against the Congress after party president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Narendra Modi-led government on its 10-year flagship initiative of ‘Digital India’.
Kharge, in a lengthy post on X, alleged that the central government’s “lofty claims of Digital India is marred by” unfulfilled promises and false claims, digital exclusion of the marginalised, as well as weakened privacy and transparency.
Responding to this, Scindia took a swipe at Kharge saying “Bharat’s era of buffering ended with the Congress”. “Bharat’s era of ‘buffering’ ended with the Congress. Under the Prime Minister, the nation shifted to 5G,” he said in a post on X.
The fine print of Modi Govt’s lofty claims of ‘Digital India’ is marred by —1⃣Unfulfilled Promises & False Claims ????As of 26th June 2025, under the BharatNet project, a total of 6.55 lakh villages were supposed to be targeted for broadband connectivity. Out of these, 4.53… pic.twitter.com/QScjYMtIMs— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 1, 2025
“Thank you, Mr Kharge, for yet another opportunity to enlighten you. Each time you have questioned us in the past, we have responded with results. For years, while your party offered dial-up promises, we built and delivered a world class telecom network, UPI, Aadhaar, and BharatNet, on the ground, and at scale,” he added.
Scindia unleashed a string of data, ranging from BSNL’s consecutive profit after 18 years to connecting over two lakh gram panchayats with broadband, on social media platform X to counter Kharge’s claims.
He suggested to the Congress president to go check on the web for telecom scams in India, which will show activities related to the UPA regime while the present regime is recognised with leadership in technology.
“Mr. @Kharge , let me offer a simple suggestion: try a basic web search for “telecom scams in India.” What you’ll find is a list featuring Congress/UPA-led crony capitalism at its best!” he said.
He further said at present when the world looks at India as a global leader in telecom, 5G, and satellite connectivity, it is the Modi government that made it possible, not by doing favours, but by doing reforms and “undoing the mess of the Grand Old Party”.
“The Congress’ contribution to Digital India has been very clear which is to Scam India and leaving behind a legacy steeped in kleptocracy and institutionalised corruption,” he added.
WHAT DID KHARGE SAY?
Kharge had alleged that false claims have been made by the Centre citing several instances, including coverage of villages aimed at under the Bharatnet project, abysmal performance of BSNL despite a financial package of over Rs 3 lakh crore, rise in cyber crimes, weakening of RTI by Data Protection Law in works.
He alleged that as of June 26, 2025, under the BharatNet project, a total of 6.55 lakh villages were supposed to be targeted for broadband connectivity but 4.53 lakh villages, about 65 per cent, are yet to be covered.
“The project’s deadline has been revised at least 8 times in 11 years,” Kharge said in his post on X.
He said when the private players are opting for 5G, BSNL has not yet completed its target of deploying 1 lakh 4G towers. “Even after receiving three revival packages worth over Rs 3 lakh crore — Rs 69,000 crore in 2019, Rs 1.64 lakh crore in 2022, and Rs 89,047 crore in 2023, it still lags behind private players,” he added.
He also said BSNL’s debt rose by 291.7 per cent from Rs 5,948 crore in March 2014 to Rs 23,297 crore in March 2024 and MTNL’s debt increased by 136.2 per cent, from Rs 14,210 crore to Rs 33,568 crore over the same period. He had alleged that “RTI Act brought by the Congress party is being weakened by bringing a flawed Data Protection Law”.
(With PTI inputs)
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