Lucknow: The official Facebook page of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, boasting over 80 lakh followers, was restored on Friday after being suspended for more than 12 hours.
The sudden deactivation by Meta sparked a political storm, with SP leaders accusing the central government of orchestrating an attack on free speech, while the government denied any involvement.
The suspension, which began on October 10, triggered sharp criticism from SP workers, who labelled it an “undeclared emergency” by the BJP-led government to stifle opposition voices.
Fakhrool Hasan Chand, the spokesperson for the SP, claimed that governmental pressure targeted the verified account, describing the move as an assault on democracy. Yadav, who is known for his active social media presence, frequently uses the platform to criticise government policies.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that the suspension stemmed from a violation of Facebook’s policies, citing abusive language in Yadav’s posts. He firmly denied any government role in the decision. Meta reactivated the page late Friday, but the incident has fuelled debates over social media regulations and political censorship.
The restoration has brought relief to Yadav’s supporters, who rely on his page for updates and political discourse. The episode underscores the growing tension between political parties and social media platforms in India’s charged political landscape.