'Data theft' issue: Rahul calls PM 'Big Boss' who spies, Irani says even 'Chhota Bheem' would know better

Acrimonious exchanges between the Congress and the BJP on the issue of data 'theft' escalated today with the opposition party dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi the "Big Boss who likes to spy on Indians" and the ruling party hitting back, saying even "Chhota Bheem" knows it is not snooping.

Apart from the cartoon character, mythological characters from the epic 'Mahabharata' were also used by the two parties to take jibes at each other.

After allegations that data from the prime minister's official app was shared with foreign firms without the consent of users, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the NaMo app secretly recorded audio, video and contacts.

"Modi's NaMo App secretly records audio, video, contacts of your friends and 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," Gandhi said on Twitter using the hashtag "DeleteNaMoApp".

He also alleged that Modi was misusing his position to build a personal database.

"This data belongs to India, not Modi," he said on Twitter.

Union minister Smriti Irani retorted that Gandhi now knows what the NCC is thanks to the NaMo App and that even "Chhota Bheem", a cartoon character, knows that commonly asked permission on Apps do not "tantamount to snooping".

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala hit back, tweeting, "Ohh Ms Irani! But Kauravas wouldn't remember that Bheem represented the righteous Pandavas! Also, those who persecuted Rohith Vemula and denigrate Babasaheb 'Bhimrao's' legacy everyday can only set this level of discourse!"