On Saturday, Google reinstated all previously removed Indian apps after the Narendra Modi government intervened in the matter.
Following intervention by the Narendra Modi government, Google restored all Indian apps it had previously removed, as reported by ANI. Union Minister of Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has taken a firm stance on the issue and has called for a meeting with the search engine giant on Monday.
Vaishnaw emphasized that the delisting of apps from Google Play Store is not permitted under India’s policy, stating, “India is very clear, our policy is very clear…our startups will get the protection that they need.”
Expressing concern over the delisting, Vaishnaw mentioned that he has already contacted Google and the app developers affected by the removal. He reiterated that such delisting cannot be permitted and actions must be taken accordingly.
On Saturday, Google informed the bourses about the delisting of five apps from Info Edge, including Naukri.com, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf, 99acres, and Shiksha. This crackdown was initiated against apps from 10 Indian developers for non-compliance with the payments policy.
Additionally, searches on Google Play Store revealed the removal of apps such as Shaadi, Matrimony.com, Bharat Matrimony, Altt Balaji, and Kuku FM by the tech giant.
Responding to the incident, Bharat Matrimony founder Murugavel Janakiraman described it as a “dark day” for the internet in India, while Kuku FM Co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena criticized Google’s behavior, likening it to a ‘monopoly’.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed concerns over Google’s dominance in the Indian app ecosystem, stating that it controls more than 90 percent of it. He emphasized the need to address legitimate concerns regarding Google’s potential misuse against startups and competition.
Chandrasekhar highlighted the importance of government and judicial scrutiny to determine whether this incident constitutes an abuse of power by Google.