The Congress party launched a sharp attack on the Centre on Friday after reports surfaced that the websites of Chinese apps TikTok and AliExpress had become accessible in India.
In a post on social media platform X, Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “striking a deal with China at the cost of martyrs’ sacrifices.” The party said TikTok’s website appearing accessible was a “betrayal” of the soldiers who lost their lives in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, where 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
Congress claimed that Modi had initially given China “a clean chit” after the clash and only banned TikTok and other Chinese apps under public pressure. “Now Modi is once again cozying up to China… it’s clear his love for China outweighs his love for the country,” the party alleged.
The controversy began after several users reported being able to open the TikTok homepage in India. However, the mobile app remained unavailable, and users could not log in or view content on the website.
Similar reports emerged about AliExpress, though shopping features were not functional.
Government sources quickly denied lifting the ban. “The Government of India has not issued any unblocking order for TikTok. Any such statement/news is false and misleading,” officials told ANI.
TikTok, AliExpress, and 57 other Chinese apps were banned in June 2020 following the deadly border clash. The government stated that the apps posed a threat to India’s sovereignty, integrity, and security, citing concerns over data being sent outside the country.
The ban was part of a wider crackdown on Chinese technology amid heightened border tensions. Intelligence agencies had also flagged these apps for data security risks.
The reports come at a sensitive time. India and China have recently taken steps to ease tensions, resuming trade at border points and planning to restart direct flights. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin later this month, where he is expected to meet Chinese leaders.
Despite speculation, the official ban on TikTok and other Chinese apps remains in place.
