NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday slammed the Centre after websites for China’s TiKTok and Aliexpress were made “accessible” in India.In a social media post on X, the party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “striking a deal with China at the cost of martyrs’ sacrifices.” The website of TikTok was “unblocked” in India, although the mobile app still remained inaccessible.”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.”Now Modi is once again cozying up to China, meeting with the Chinese foreign minister and planning to visit China himself.. and amidst this, this news related to TikTok has emerged. 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,” it added.This comes after Chinese apps like TikTok, AliExpress and Shien became party accessible in India.TikTok website is not allowing access further than the homepage, the TikTok mobile app is still completely inaccessible in India. No shopping is allowed through AliExpress, which is a subsidiary of online shopping major Alibaba.com.However, there has not been any official confirmation from the government’s side with regard to the lifting of the ban on TikTok and AliExpress.TikTok, Ali Express, along with 58 other Chinese apps, was banned in India in June 2020 citing concerns over data security and privacy.The government at the time said the apps were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”The move came two weeks after heightened tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
