Key Points:
- Reports claimed TikTok and AliExpress sites are accessible again in India, sparking speculation of TikTok’s return.
- Congress targets PM Modi, alleges “deal with China” at the cost of martyrs’ sacrifice.
- Government sources dismiss reports as fake, confirm TikTok ban remains in place.
- Ban was originally imposed in June 2020 after the Galwan Valley clash, citing national security.
- Rumors gain traction days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s India visit; PM Modi may visit China soon.
New Delhi: Five years after its ban, short-video app TikTok has once again entered India’s political spotlight. Users recently noticed that the home pages of TikTok and Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress were opening in India, fueling speculation about TikTok’s re-entry into the Indian market.
The speculation has triggered a political storm, with the Congress party directly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accusing him of “bowing down to China.”
Congress Accuses Modi Govt of “Deal with China”
On Friday, the Congress party launched a strong attack on the Modi government. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), the party accused PM Modi of “betraying the sacrifice of 20 brave soldiers” who died in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
Congress alleged:
- Modi initially gave a “clean chit” to China.
- TikTok was banned only after public outrage.
- Now, by engaging with Chinese leadership, Modi has supposedly “opened the gates for TikTok again.”
Congress further claimed that PM Modi’s recent interactions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and his expected visit to China later this month, signal a troubling “friendship with China” while national interests are compromised.
Government Denies Reports: ‘Ban Still in Place’
However, government sources were quick to dismiss the TikTok speculation as baseless. Officials clarified:
- The ban on TikTok and other Chinese apps is still valid.
- No official order has been issued to lift restrictions.
- Any reports on TikTok’s unblocking are “fake and misleading.”
Chinese tech firm ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has also not issued any public statement about relaunching operations in India.
Background: Galwan Clash and Chinese App Ban
The Indian government imposed a sweeping ban on TikTok, AliExpress and over 200 other Chinese apps in June 2020, shortly after the Galwan Valley border clash where 20 Indian soldiers were martyred.
New Delhi cited national security and data privacy concerns, arguing that the apps were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India.” The ban was one of India’s strongest economic and digital moves against China.
China Relations in Focus Again
Tensions over TikTok’s rumored return come at a sensitive diplomatic juncture:
- Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India and met PM Modi and EAM S. Jaishankar to discuss border stability and regional ties.
- Reports indicate that PM Modi is likely to visit Beijing later this month, in what could be a significant thaw in relations since the Galwan clash.
Political observers note that the timing of the TikTok rumors has fueled suspicions and may complicate India-China diplomacy.
What’s Next?
- For now, TikTok remains officially banned in India.
- Any possibility of its return would require a formal government order, new data-sharing policies, and tighter national security assurances.
- With PM Modi’s potential China visit on the horizon, the controversy is likely to remain a flashpoint in political debate.
