Tue Jan 14 18:17:33 UTC 2025: ## Meta Faces Indian Parliament Summons After Zuckerberg’s Controversial Election Remarks

**New Delhi** – Social media giant Meta is facing potential parliamentary action following CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s assertion on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections due to a weak Covid-19 response. This claim has sparked a major political controversy in India.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, has announced that Meta will be summoned to apologize for spreading disinformation. Dubey stated that the committee will not tolerate such misinformation, which he believes damages India’s image.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw swiftly refuted Zuckerberg’s statement, calling it “factually incorrect.” Vaishnaw highlighted the BJP’s decisive victory, securing a third consecutive term, and cited the government’s extensive Covid-19 response, including the distribution of free food to 800 million people and the administration of 2.2 billion vaccine doses. He emphasized the Modi government’s achievements and the public’s clear mandate for the NDA.

Zuckerberg’s broader claim that most incumbent governments globally lost post-Covid elections was also dismissed as inaccurate by Vaishnaw. Meta has yet to officially respond to the brewing controversy and the impending parliamentary summons. The incident underscores the growing scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on political discourse in India.

Read More