Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that Facebook blocked Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s account because of a violent sexual post, clarifying that the action was taken by the social media platform itself, not by the government.

This development comes after Yadav’s official Facebook page was suspended on late Friday evening, sparking a political row. The Samajwadi Party blamed the BJP government of attempting to silence the opposition voice. They also termed the move as “undeclared emergency” and an “attack on democracy.”

Samajwadi chief’s Facebook account restored

Yadav’s Facebook account has been restored after being suspended. Soon, he shared a post tribute to Loknayak Jay Prakash Narayan on the socialist leader’s birth anniversary.

Quoting Jayprakash Narayan, Yadav posted: “By total revolution, I mean seeing the most oppressed person in society at the highest position of power.”

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Samajwadi Party leaders slam the move

Commenting on the development, SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasand Chand shared on X, ‘’Suspending the Facebook account of respected Akhilesh Yadav ji, the national president of the country’s third largest party is an attack on democracy. The BJP government has imposed an undeclared emergency where every opposing voice is being subdued. But the Samajwadi Party will continue to oppose the BJP’s anti-people policies.’’

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SP National Secretary Rajeev Rai also criticised the move in a strongly worded post shared on X, stating that blocking the account of the leader of India’s third largest party was “not  only condemnable but also an attack on the country’s dramatic system.”

“If this has happened at the behest of those who are in power, it is a sign of cowardice,” Raid mentioned. In his social media, he also tagged Facebook, highlighting party’s stand.

Joining the criticism, Pooja Shukla, the Samajwadi Party’s MLA from Lucknow North, stated that Facebook had ‘’dared to cross its limits’’ by suspending Akhilesh’s Yadav’s official page without giving any warning or notice related to it.

‘’This is not an ordinary account-this is Akhilesh Yadav ji, the vice of millions,’’ she posted on X. ‘’Facebook must remember its boundaries-it cannot silence democracy. Samajwadis, it’s time to bring Facebook to its senses! Such arrogance will not be tolerated.’’

Meanwhile, on the occasion of former Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav’s third death anniversary, Samajwadi Party President announced a memorial in Safai. While addressing the press conference, Yadav stated that Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) would continue to influence generations of party workers. He further added that his ideals and thoughts will keep him alive in the hearts of people.