Congress, BJP in War of Words Over Data-Theft Charge: Who Said What So Far

New Delhi, Mar 26: War of words which broke out between the Congress and BJP following the alleged role of Cambridge Analytica, a UK-based data consultancy firm, in influencing the poll outcomes in India, escalated over the past couple of days with charges of data theft being levelled against the developers of NaMo app - the official mobile application of Prime Minister Narendra Modi - and the With INC app, used by supporters and cadres of the Congress party.

Both the national parties have charged each other of comprising the privacy of the general populace by sharing their personal data with third-party foreign companies.

As the verbal duel continues to turn murkier, here's a look at who said what so far:

Rahul Gandhi's fresh jibe at PM Modi: 'Bigg Boss'

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused PM Modi of snooping all citizens via his official app.

"Modi’s NaMo App secretly records audio, video, contacts of your friends & family and even tracks your location via GPS. He’s the Big Boss who likes to spy on Indians. Now he wants data on our children. 13 lakh NCC cadets are being forced to download the APP (sic)," he said on Twitter.

Smriti Irani hits back with 'Chhota Bheem' retort

Union Minister Smriti Irani struck back at Rahul for using the 'Bigg Boss' jibe against Modi. "@RahulGandhi ji, even ‘Chhota Bheem’ knows that commonly asked permission on Apps don’t tantamount to snooping (sic)," she posted on Twitter.

Congress transferring data of 'With INC' App users to private firms in Singapore: BJP IT Cell

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya, under fire following the NaMo app "expose" last week, posted data on Twitter which suggested the With INC app's link to Singapore-based firms, which allegedly collected data of the application users.

In a series of tweets, Malviya highlighted the portion of Congress' privacy policy on the internet which says: "For making the use of Website effective and resourceful Indian National Congress may share your information with vendors, consultants, and other service providers or volunteers who are engaged by or working with us and who need access to such information to carry out their work for us; with candidates, organizations, groups or causes that we believe have similar political viewpoints, principles or objectives."

Malviya, however, skipped the subsequent portion of the text which read as follows: "...when you give us your consent to do so, including if we notify you on the Website, that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information; when we believe in good faith that we are required to do so by law, court order, as requested by other government or law enforcement authority."

Within hours of the charges levelled by the BJP, Congress deleted the With INC app from Google Play Store. In a statement issued, the party said, the application is being temporarily shut down.

"Don't believe fake reports": Union Minister KJ Alphons on NaMo App row

KJ Alphons, the junior Minister for IT and Electronics, dismissed the allegations of data breach levelled against the NaMo app.

"You think Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to give your data to a private company in the US. Don't believe in such fake stories," he said.

American firm CleverTap collects personal data of NaMo app users: French hacker

A French ethical hacker, who goes by the Twitter name Elliot Anderson, claimed data of NaMo app users is being deceitful collected by an American app marketing form CleverTap. To validate his charge, he posted the following tweets:

'Cambridge Analytica behind surge in anti-BJP sentiment on social media'

After the investigation by Britain's Channel 4 - which claimed Cambridge Analytica was serving political clients in India, apart from the UK, US, Argentina and Czech Republic - BJP was quick to attribute the company for the wave of anti-government sentiment on social media.

"All of you who complained about the surge in anti-BJP and anti-government messages and fake news in recent days on social media, now know who was behind it - an insidious Cambridge Analytica hired by a desperate Congress," Malviya said.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress is planning to fight the 2019 general elections with the unethical aid of Cambridge Analytica.

"This is how they led a poisonous campaign in Gujarat. And this is how they plan to fight in 2019. But the government of India will not allow foreign intervention in our electoral process," said Prasad, who heads the Law Ministry, along with Information & Technology.

'Hitler Had Goebbels for Propaganda, PM Modi Has Ravi Shankar Prasad'

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala responded to Prasad by equating him with late German dictator Hitler's propaganda in-charge Joseph Goebbels.

Accusing Prasad of spearheading the "fake news agenda" of the government, Surjewala said he should be called the "lie minister" instead of the Law Minister.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 26, 2018 04:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).