Raghav Chaddha Raise Mobile Users Issue: Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chaddha raised a major question in the Rajya Sabha regarding telecom companies' prepaid plans, sparking controversy in the country over recharge plans. He stated that there are 1.25 billion mobile users in the country, 90% of whom are prepaid mobile users. He stated that he would like to raise two major concerns on behalf of prepaid mobile users. The first is that when the recharge is exhausted, incoming calls, along with outgoing calls, are also stopped.

'Stopping incoming calls is arbitrary...'
Raghav Chaddha stated that stopping outgoing calls after the recharge is exhausted is understandable, but stopping incoming calls is arbitrary. Once the recharge is exhausted, no one can contact you, and important messages like OTPs don't arrive on your phone. In an emergency, a person becomes helpless.

The AAP MP explains that our mobile number has become a digital identity. This is extremely essential. For example, banking, UPI payments, train ticket OTPs, PAN-Aadhaar authentication, interview calls, hospital calls, calls from parents in the village—all come from incoming calls and incoming SMS. All of this is interrupted because a person forgot to recharge.

'Stopping the right to communication...'
Raghav Chadha says that stopping incoming calls isn't stopping a service, but rather, it's stopping our right to communication. Just as your Aadhaar card doesn't expire because you haven't updated your details, or your bank account doesn't get closed because you didn't pay your monthly deposit. Your voter ID doesn't get suspended because you forgot to vote in an election. Similarly, your mobile number shouldn't be suspended or deactivated because you haven't recharged.

What is Raghav Chadha's demand?
Raghav Chadha stated that he was not demanding free outgoing calls or free data in the House, but that the incoming call facility should be guaranteed. He then made three demands:

1. Prepaid mobile connections should have continuous incoming calls and incoming SMS for at least one year.

2. Any mobile number should be deactivated after three years.

3. Mobile operators should also offer incoming-only plans.

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