A major political storm broke out on Saturday after the Samajwadi Party (SP) claimed that the Facebook account of party chief Akhilesh Yadav had been suspended, triggering outrage among party leaders who accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “silencing opposition voices” through social media control.

Leading the charge, SP leader Fakhrul Hasan Chaand posted on X, calling the move “an attack on democracy.” He wrote, “The suspension of the Facebook account of the respected national president of the country’s third-largest party, Shri Akhilesh Yadav ji, is an attack on democracy. The BJP government has imposed an undeclared emergency in the country, where it wants to suppress every voice raised in opposition.”

SP National Secretary Rajeev Rai echoed the sentiment, calling the action a “blow to India’s democratic system.” In his post, Rai stated, “Blocking the account of the leader of the third largest party in the country’s Parliament, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Honorable Shri @yadavakhilesh ji, by Facebook is not only condemnable but also a blow to India’s democratic system.”

Taking a direct dig at the BJP, Rai added, “If this has been done at the behest of the ruling party, it is a sign of cowardice. Trying to suppress the voice of socialists is a mistake. @facebook @samajwadiparty.”

SP MLA from Lucknow North, Pooja Shukla, also lashed out at Facebook, accusing the platform of political bias. “Facebook has dared to cross its limits — it has suspended the official page of Akhilesh Yadav ji (@yadavakhilesh) without any warning or notice. This is not an ordinary account — this is Akhilesh Yadav ji, the voice of millions! 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,” she said in a strongly worded post.

Another senior SP leader, Pawan Pandey, joined the chorus, accusing Facebook of “acting under political pressure.” He urged the company to respect the principles of free speech, asserting, “It’s time for the socialists to bring Facebook to its senses! Such arrogance will not be tolerated.”

While Facebook has not yet issued an official statement on the suspension, SP leaders have vowed to raise the matter nationally, framing it as a symbol of what they call a “digital dictatorship”.