BLURB
– Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government never asked Meta to remove content, while questions over deleted posts and Governor-police ties intensified.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said neither the state government nor the police had asked Meta to remove any news reports or social media posts from its platforms. His statement came amid allegations that content critical of the state government had been removed.
Chennithala said Meta had removed the content on its own and should explain why it did so. He added that the government could support media organisations or others seeking restoration of removed posts if necessary.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan had earlier said his office made only one request to Meta, seeking restoration of the official Instagram account of the Chief Minister’s Office. He said the account had not been restored even after two months. Satheesan also claimed that some posts supporting him had been removed.
Chennithala also commented on reports that Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had summoned State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar over a student protest at Kalady University. He said there was nothing wrong with the Governor meeting the police chief.
The minister stressed that the police function according to the laws of the country and directions of the elected government, rather than the Governor’s instructions. His remarks came after opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the reported meeting as interference in the state’s administration. Vijayan had accused the Governor of overstepping constitutional boundaries and questioned the government’s response. The issue has added to the ongoing political debate over social media moderation and relations between the state government and the Raj Bhavan.
