**Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Opposition Leader Umesh Singhar Raises Security Concerns Over Smart Meters**
Leader of Opposition Umesh Singhar on Monday raised serious allegations regarding the installation of smart meters in Madhya Pradesh. Referring to them as “spy meters,” Singhar claimed that these devices are being monitored and that the companies involved in their installation have connections to Pakistan, thereby compromising the security of every citizen.
Speaking to the media, Singhar urged both the state and central governments to respond immediately to these concerns. He also accused the smart meter project in the state of involving misappropriation of funds. According to him, one company linked to the installation has already been blacklisted in neighboring states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, while others allegedly maintain ties with Pakistan.
Singhar further referenced warnings from the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) and the Government of India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which highlighted potential national security threats posed by these projects. He claimed that many management officials involved were Pakistan nationals.
The Opposition Leader also pointed out that for the Know Your Customer (KYC) process required for smart meter installation, companies are collecting sensitive personal information, including Aadhaar numbers, Voter ID, PAN, bank account details, caste, and land records.
Emphasizing the potential for technical attacks, Singhar listed several risks such as Bad Data Injection, Spoofing, Man-in-the-Middle attacks, virus or Trojan-infected firmware updates, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, and energy theft. With approximately 25 crore meters installed across India, each device could serve as an entry point, posing a significant threat to the national grid, citizen data, and privacy.
**Singhar Questions RSS Chief Over PoK Statement**
In a separate statement, Singhar reacted to the remarks made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Satna regarding Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Bhagwat had vowed that “we have to take it [PoK] back.” Responding to this, Singhar challenged Bhagwat to specify a time and date for the action, while also questioning why Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a ceasefire.
*— Story by Staff Reporters*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-news-smart-meter-installation-companies-have-pakistan-links-claims-leader-of-opposition-umesh-singhar