The Congress on Tuesday claimed that illegal Chinese loan apps were duping lakhs of Indians through a conspiracy of the debt trap and asked the Modi government to ban them.
Accusing the ruling dispensation for remaining a mute spectator, the party demanded an immediate ban.
Addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said: “It has been two years since the news of Chinese loan apps duping lakhs of Indians… An investigation between January and February 2021 found more than 1,100 digital loan apps available across play stores.
“The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accepted that at least 600 such apps were operating illegally.”
Till now, 52 Indians had committed suicide due to blackmailing by these loan apps, he claimed.
“The RBI is saying these apps (which are available on play store) are illegal. How can the government be a mute spectator? It is giving away data of our citizens on a platter. The government should immediately ban these apps.”
“Chinese loan app companies siphoned off Rs 5,000 crore from India through the hawala route. There has been no strategy, no focus by the Modi government in evaluating priorities. Certain Chinese apps were banned in 2020 but the action on such apps has been lackluster.
“When the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies pays visits to each and every opposition leader, why are they (on) these Chinese loan apps?”