'This Lagaan must be stopped': Anupam Mittal after Google delists Shaadi.com from Play Store

Anupam Mittal has been vocal critic of Google's revenue system for Indian startups.

Anupam Mittal, the multi-millionaire founder-CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com, has lashed out at Google for delisting the matrimonial site's app from its Play Store. On Friday, the tech giant had taken off over a dozen apps by prominent Indian digital companies from its app store ffor not complying with the company's app billing policy for an "extended period of time."

The development was the latest escalation in the ongoing standoff between the tech giant and local internet companies in the world's second-largest internet market.

Mittal, who has been bitterly critical of Google's revenue system, called March 1 "a dark day for India Internet".

"Google has delisted major apps from its app store even though legal hearings are underway at CCI (Competition Commission of India) and the Supreme Court," he wrote on X. "Their false narratives and audacity show they have little regard for India. Make no mistake - this is the new Digital East India Co and this 'Lagaan' must be stopped!"

Today is a dark day for India Internet. Google has delisted major apps from its app store even though legal hearings are underway @CCI_India & @indSupremeCourt Their false narratives & audacity show they have little regard for Make no mistake - this is the new Digital East…

— Anupam Mittal (@AnupamMittal) March 1, 2024

Anupam Mittal had earlier shared how many startups are made to pay 20-50 percent of their revenue as Google Tax to get better visibility. "It's brutal, it's criminal," he said.

Joining ranks with him was Info Edge co-founder Sanjeev Bikchandani. Several of the company's apps such as Naukri India jobseeker, 99acres, and Naukrigulf apps were also delisted on Friday before being restored on Saturday.

Bikchandani also called for India’s antitrust regulator -- the CCI -- to take action against Google’s anti-competitive behaviour.

He said the government should build an app store that is part of Digital Public Infrastructure, similar to UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce).

"Essentially, you're seeing a very high amount of rent being collected by somebody who has monopoly power. This will obviously disincentivise the companies that are trying to build apps" Bikhchandani said.