AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the Uttar Pradesh government’s new digital media policy, which offers financial incentives to social media influencers for promoting government schemes while threatening legal action against those who post “objectionable content.”
“To cover up its failures Yogi Adityanath has started a new scheme. Under this scheme, one can earn up to 8 lakh rupees by falsely praising Baba on social media,” Owaisi posted on X in Hindi. He further stated, “If you even legally oppose Baba or his party, you will be declared anti-national and sent to jail. Now the IT cell people will run their household with your tax money.”
The policy aims to use social media platforms to spread information about state welfare schemes and achievements. Influencers on platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube could receive up to ₹8 lakh per month based on their reach and engagement. The policy also warns of legal action against any content deemed “objectionable” or anti-national.
“In case of uploading objectionable content on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube, legal action has been arranged against the concerned agency/firm as per rules. Under no circumstances should the content be indecent, obscene, and anti-national,” stated a press note signed by Principal Secretary Sanjay Prasad.
The BJP defended the policy as an “innovative move” to create employment and curb misinformation. BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, “The Yogi Adityanath government moves forward with innovations. It pays attention to the changes happening in society. The digital media policy will create new jobs. Those who spread rumours on social media will face strict punishment.”
However, opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress, have criticized the policy as an attempt to suppress free speech and misuse public funds. “The BJP/Yogi government has brought a provision to give lakhs of rupees of public money to those who falsely praise the government and to give jail/life imprisonment to those who raise public problems on social media,” the Samajwadi Party Media Cell posted on X.
