BJP MP Says Parliamentary Panel Will Summon Meta Over Mark Zuckerberg’s Comments on India Elections

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A parliamentary panel in India is set to summon Meta, the parent company of Facebook, over a controversial statement made by its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, regarding the 2024 Indian elections. The remarks, which were made in a podcast, suggested that the incumbent government in India lost the election due to its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The statement, made by Zuckerberg as part of a broader discussion on the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on political trust, has sparked outrage among Indian lawmakers. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, who chairs the parliamentary committee on communications and information technology, expressed his strong disapproval of the comment. He confirmed on Tuesday that his committee would summon Meta to address the “misinformation” spread by Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg’s Remarks on India’s Election
In the podcast, Zuckerberg linked a breakdown of trust in governments worldwide to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that incumbent governments lost elections in 2024, including India. He suggested that the global trend of declining trust in governments was caused by issues such as inflation, economic policies, and the overall handling of the pandemic.

“It’s not just the US. The reaction to Covid probably caused a breakdown in trust in a lot of governments around the world… India, just like a ton of countries, had elections and the incumbents basically lost every single one,” Zuckerberg said.

The comment was widely criticized, especially in the context of India’s 2024 elections, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a decisive victory.

BJP MP and Union Minister Respond
Nishikant Dubey took to social media to condemn Zuckerberg’s statement, calling it an example of misinformation that tarnished India’s democratic image. “My committee will summon Meta for this misinformation. Incorrect information tarnishes the image of any democratic country,” Dubey wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He further demanded an apology from Meta for the statement.

On Monday, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also criticized Zuckerberg’s remarks, calling them “erroneous” and “disappointing.” Vaishnaw pointed out that the Indian government, led by PM Modi, had successfully managed the pandemic, providing free food to 800 million people, distributing 2.2 billion free vaccines, and offering aid to other nations. He emphasized that the government’s efforts had been instrumental in securing the NDA’s victory in the 2024 elections.

“It’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg. Let’s uphold facts and credibility,” Vaishnaw wrote, reiterating that the Modi government’s success during the pandemic had earned the trust of the Indian people.

Meta Under Fire
The statements have put Meta under intense scrutiny in India, where it has been asked to clarify its position on Zuckerberg’s remarks. The Indian government has already initiated a fact-checking process regarding the statements, with calls for Meta to address the issue and ensure accuracy in its public statements.

The controversy comes at a time when Meta is facing growing criticism for its role in the spread of misinformation on its platforms, particularly in relation to elections and political discourse.

Sources By Agencies