TikTok on Tuesday issued a statement saying that it has been invited by the government.

New Delhi:

A day after it was blocked, Chinese video-making app TikTok on Tuesday issued a statement saying that it has been invited by the government “to respond and submit clarifications”. TikTok, along with 59 top Chinese apps, was blocked by India on Tuesday over security concerns.

The government move came amid escalating tensions between India and China over the June 15 clash in Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed in action.

TikTok, UC Browser, WeChat, Shareit and CamScanner are among the Chinese apps blocked by the government for “engaging in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order,” the government said.

Here’s the Full Statement issued by TikTok India

“The Government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it. We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications. TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and have not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government. Further if we are requested to in the future we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity.

TikTok has democratized the internet by making it available in 14 Indian languages, with hundreds of millions of users, artists, story-tellers, educators and performers depending on it for their livelihood, many of whom are first time internet users.”

– Nikhil Gandhi, Head of TikTok, India