In a sharp rebuttal to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s criticism of the Digital India initiative, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia delivered a detailed and scathing response, accusing the Congress of leaving behind an “era of buffering,” marked by telecom scams, crony capitalism, and digital exclusion.

This political clash comes as India celebrates 10 years of the Digital India programme, a flagship initiative of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government launched in 2015 to digitise governance, expand broadband access, and transform the nation into a technology-driven economy.

Kharge’s Allegations: Lofty Claims, Weak Results

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mallikarjun Kharge painted a grim picture of Digital India’s implementation, calling the government’s progress “lofty claims and unfulfilled promises.” He raised several concerns:

• Underwhelming village broadband coverage under the BharatNet project, claiming that only 2.02 lakh out of 6.55 lakh villages (35%) had been connected as of June 26, 2025.

• He noted that project deadlines have been revised 8 times in 11 years, reflecting poor execution and target slippage.

• Despite receiving three revival packages for BSNL worth over ₹3 lakh crore, Kharge said the state-owned telecom giant has failed to complete its 4G rollout, while private players are already deploying 5G technology.

• He highlighted BSNL’s debt, which rose by 291.7%, from ₹5,948 crore in March 2014 to ₹23,297 crore in March 2024, and MTNL’s debt increase of 136.2% over the same period.

• Kharge further accused the government of undermining the Right to Information (RTI) Act, brought by Congress, by introducing a flawed Data Protection Law that weakens transparency and public oversight.

Scindia’s Counter: From Dial-up Promises to Digital Delivery

In a strong rebuttal also posted on X, Jyotiraditya Scindia took a swipe at Kharge’s remarks, stating:

“Bharat’s era of buffering ended with the Congress. Under the Prime Minister, the nation shifted to 5G.”

Scindia defended the Digital India mission by listing transformative achievements, asserting that:

• India has delivered world-class digital infrastructure, including UPI, Aadhaar, and BharatNet.

• BSNL posted consecutive profits for the first time in 18 years, signalling operational turnaround.

• Over 2 lakh gram panchayats have been connected with broadband infrastructure under BharatNet, enabling digital access in rural India.

He also sarcastically advised Kharge:

“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.”

Scindia accused the UPA era of:

• Engaging in large-scale telecom scams, referencing the infamous 2G spectrum scandal.

• Failing to modernise infrastructure and build an inclusive digital economy.

Scindia Slams Congress Legacy: From Scam India to Digital India

Scindia’s attack extended beyond numbers. He framed the Congress’s contribution as:

“Scam India and a legacy steeped in kleptocracy and institutionalised corruption.”

He credited the Modi-led government for transforming India into a global leader in telecom, 5G deployment, and satellite connectivity, not through political favours but through:

• Bold reforms, including spectrum auctions, transparent procurement, and infrastructure expansion.

• Rolling out 4.81 lakh 5G base stations across the country.

• Laying over 42 lakh kilometres of optical fibre, including in strategically critical regions like Galwan and Siachen.

Congress Claims: Rising Cybercrime and Exclusion

Kharge, in his critique, also flagged:

• The rising threat of cybercrime under the Digital India push, which he linked to weak oversight and lack of security protocols.

• Digital exclusion of marginalised communities, due to low digital literacy and affordability barriers.

• Alleged weakened transparency due to the new Data Protection Law, calling it an attempt to dilute the RTI Act’s effectiveness.

The Broader Political Context

The digital duel between Scindia and Kharge comes as the BJP celebrates a decade of Digital India, highlighting key achievements like:

• 100 billion+ digital payment transactions annually via UPI

• Direct Benefit Transfers worth over ₹44 lakh crore, with savings of ₹3.48 lakh crore

• Launch of CoWIN, ONDC, and other scalable digital platforms now referenced globally

The Congress, however, is aiming to undermine BJP’s digital narrative, pointing to lapses in execution, data protection, and public enterprise competitiveness.

Conclusion

The political spat between Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mallikarjun Kharge encapsulates the larger ideological divide over Digital India’s legacy. While the BJP projects it as a model of technological leadership and inclusive growth, the Congress portrays it as an unfinished agenda riddled with exclusions and inefficiencies.

As India aspires to global digital leadership, the battle over Digital India’s past and future is becoming a defining theme in the political discourse ahead of 2026.

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