CPI(M) leader M.V. Jayarajan accuses Kerala’s UDF govt of curbing free speech through police and Meta
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State committee member M.V. Jayarajan has alleged that the UDF government in Kerala led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State committee member M.V. Jayarajan has alleged that the UDF government in Kerala led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is “suppressing freedom of expression by using the police and (tech company) Meta” to remove posts critical of the government, drawing parallels with the Emergency imposed by the Congress government 51 years ago. Speaking to the media in Kannur on Friday, Mr. Jayarajan claimed that the government had taken a “U- turn” on several issues it had strongly opposed while in the Opposition, including PM SHRI schools, reduction of liquor tax, mineral sand mining and the appointment of the lawyer of an accused as a government pleader. He alleged that criticism of these decisions had led to widespread discussion on social media and that the government was attempting to silence dissent.
Jayarajan alleged that police cases were being registered against social media users and that Meta had removed posts critical of the Chief Minister under Section 78(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act. On the 51st anniversary of the Emergency declared by the Congress government under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Mr. Jayarajan said the present action of the Kerala government resembled that period, during which “the slogan ‘Keep quiet and work’ symbolised the curtailment of democratic freedoms.” He alleged that the UDF government was now using the police and Meta to restrict free speech and described the move as “anti-democratic, regressive and reprehensible.” According to him, posts removed from Facebook included criticism relating to the PM SHRI scheme, liquor policy, the appointment of a government lawyer linked to the Sabarimala gold theft case, the Nipah outbreak, remarks on the Chief Minister’s governance and comments on the State’s Excise policies.
He also cited posts referring to the government’s mineral sand mining policy and other political issues. The CPI(M) leader also alleged that a person who criticised the Chief Minister on Facebook was summoned by the Kannur Cyber Police Station, claiming that such actions amounted to intimidation of dissenting voices, describing it as “evidence of an Emergency mindset.” He maintained that freedom of expression is a fundamental right and “no government can permanently silence criticism” through police action or by seeking the removal of online content. He argued that the growing criticism from young people on social media stemmed from “the government’s own policies”, particularly the reduction in liquor tax, which he alleged benefited liquor barons by ₹600 crore.
The BriefWire