The temporary suspension of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav’s official Facebook account has sparked outrage among party leaders, who accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to “suppress the opposition’s voice.”
SP leaders quickly took to social media to express their outrage, placing blame squarely on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and alleging that the ruling government was behind the efforts to silence dissent.
SP leader Fakhrul Hasan Chand condemned the action, calling it an “attack on democracy.” He wrote on Instagram, “The suspension of the Facebook account of Shri Akhilesh Yadav, the respected national president of the country’s third-largest party, is an attack on democracy. The BJP government has imposed an undeclared emergency, seeking to silence every voice raised against it.” Chand reaffirmed that the Samajwadi Party would continue its fight against the BJP’s “anti-people policies.”
Echoing similar sentiments, SP National Secretary and MP Rajiv Rai said that blocking Yadav’s account was a “blow to India’s democratic fabric.” Rai stated, “Facebook’s action against the former Chief Minister and leader of the third-largest party in Parliament is deeply condemnable. If this was done under the influence of the ruling party, it reflects sheer cowardice. Suppressing socialist voices is a grave mistake.”
Another senior SP leader, Pawan Pandey, denounced Facebook’s actions as “a deliberate attempt to stifle democracy.” He posted, “Facebook crossed all limits today, suspending Akhilesh Yadav’s official page without warning is a shameful attempt to muzzle his voice, which represents millions of Indians. Facebook must realize it cannot silence democracy.”
Pandey further warned that the SP would not tolerate such actions, announcing, “It’s time for socialists to bring Facebook to its senses. Such arrogance will not be accepted.”
Following the widespread outrage, Yadav’s Facebook page was restored later in the day, much to the relief of party supporters.
However, the incident has reignited debates around digital censorship, political bias, and the influence of social media platforms on shaping political discourse in India.
Meanwhile, the BJP took a dig at Akhilesh Yadav’s social media page’s re-emergence. Spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, “The SP should include some technical experts in its team.It is the SP’s habit to unnecessarily raise hue and cry over every issue.It is not a good idea to make political accusations without due consideration.”