August 23, 2025

NEW DELHI: In a dramatic turn, Congress took a fiery swipe at the Centre on Friday for making Chinese websites TikTok and AliExpress accessible in India again. The party jumped on social media, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "striking a deal with China at the cost of martyrs' sacrifices." Although the TikTok mobile app remains banned, Congress pointed out that its website was "unblocked". "The Chinese company 'TikTok's website has started operating in India. In a clash with China, 20 of our brave soldiers were martyred. Initially, Narendra Modi gave China a clean chit. When Congress exerted pressure, 'TikTok' was banned to manage the headlines," the party said in a strong social media post. Congress did not stop there. They blasted Modi for "cozying up to China," pointing out his meetings with the Chinese foreign minister and plans to visit China. The party added, "It’s clear - Narendra Modi's love for China has outweighed his love for the country. Just like the ceasefire with Pakistan, a deal has been struck with China at the cost of our martyrs' sacrifices." This controversy comes after websites of popular Chinese apps — TikTok, AliExpress, and Shein — became party accessible again. Yet, users quickly learned that the TikTok website allows access only up to the homepage, and the mobile app is still completely blocked in India. Likewise, AliExpress’s website is accessible, but shopping remains disabled. AliExpress is a subsidiary of Alibaba.com, the well-known giant in online shopping. So far, the Indian government has not officially confirmed any lifting of ban on these apps or websites. Rewind to June 2020, India banned TikTok, AliExpress, and 58 other Chinese apps due to serious concerns over data security and privacy. The government described them as “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” This ban was announced just two weeks after deadly border clashes between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). With this sudden reopening of websites, the political heat is back. Is this a quiet reset in India-China tech ties or just a technical glitch? Congress believes it signals a worrying move by Modi, stating openly that the sacrifices of 20 soldiers have been ignored. The stage is set for a spicy debate on patriotism and priorities!

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Tags: Tiktok, Aliexpress, China-india relations, App ban, Narendra modi, Congress criticism,