2 weeks ago
Kerala CM Denies Asking Meta to Remove Social Media Posts
In the state of Kerala in India, a big leader named V D Satheesan talked to reporters.
He wanted people to know that he did not ask a big internet company called Meta to delete news about him.
Some people from the opposition party thought he was hiding news about young people who were arrested for having drugs.
Mr. Satheesan said he knows two of those young people.
He met one of them earlier because that person was hurt during a police action.
Mr. Satheesan said he did not know anything about the drug case.
He said his office asked Meta for only one thing: to bring back the official Instagram page of his office.
That page still has not come back after two months.
He also said the same thing happened to leaders in other states.
He asked everyone to think about whether deleting just a few posts could really stop all the news in Kerala.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan denied claims that he asked Meta to remove news items about him or the Congress-led UDF government from Facebook.
The denial followed the Opposition LDF's accusation that the UDF government imposed an 'undeclared social media emergency' by taking down posts linked to the arrest of Youth Congress leaders on synthetic drug peddling charges.
Satheesan admitted knowing the two arrested individuals, Muhammad Hussain and Abdul Salam, but rejected allegations that his office requested removal of reports critical of him.
He said his office made only one request to Meta—to restore the CMO's official Instagram account—which remains unrestored after two months.
He added that similar news removals involved the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, and that Meta had apologized to the Prime Minister.
- Who
- Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, the Opposition LDF, Meta, and arrested youths Muhammad Hussain and Abdul Salam.
- What
- Satheesan denied asking Meta to remove social media posts about him and the UDF government, after the LDF alleged an 'undeclared social media emergency' over removed coverage of arrested Youth Congress leaders.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; the CM also referenced events at Perumbavoor and similar cases in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh.
- When
- Thursday, at a press conference; the CMO's Instagram restoration request was reportedly made two months earlier.
- Why
- The LDF accused the UDF government of taking down posts and news reports connected to the arrest of Youth Congress leaders on synthetic drug peddling charges, prompting the CM's denial.
LDF Opposition
UDF Government / CM's Office
Social Media Post Removals
LDF Opposition
The UDF government imposed an 'undeclared social media emergency' by taking down posts and news reports, including coverage of the arrested Youth Congress leaders.
UDF Government / CM's Office
The CM denied any request to remove posts; his office says it made only one request to Meta—to restore the CMO's Instagram account, unrelated to critical reports.
CM's Tie to Arrested Youths
LDF Opposition
The CM's personal connection with an arrested Youth Congress activist raises questions about why related coverage was removed.
UDF Government / CM's Office
The CM knew the youths because he visited an injured activist as a courtesy after a lathicharge, and was unaware of any alleged drug involvement.
Cause of Removals
LDF Opposition
The removals show the government suppressing criticism within Kerala.
UDF Government / CM's Office
Removals are part of a countrywide pattern—Meta apologized to the Prime Minister and similar removals affected the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Himachal Pradesh.
Key facts
- Chief Minister
- V D Satheesan (Congress-led UDF, Kerala)
- Accusation
- LDF alleges an 'undeclared social media emergency' by the UDF government
- CM's Response
- Denied asking Meta to remove posts; only requested CMO Instagram restoration
- Arrested Youths
- Muhammad Hussain and Abdul Salam, arrested on synthetic drug (MDMA) peddling charges
- CM's Contact with Hussain
- Visited him after a lathicharge injury at Perumbavoor during the Nava Kerala Sadas led by then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
- Meta Request Status
- CMO's official Instagram account not restored after two months
- Other States Mentioned
- Telangana and Himachal Pradesh (similar news removals involving their Chief Ministers)
Quotes
V D Satheesan
Kerala Chief Minister
““My office made only one request to Meta—to restore the official Instagram account of the CMO. But it has still not been restored even after two months.””
deccanchronicle.com
““Do you think I’m such a fool to believe that by having Meta remove 10 posts, we can gag the media and social media in Kerala?””
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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