THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant move against what he terms “digital censorship,” Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, has officially written to Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) urging them not to remove the viral parody song “Pottiye Kettiye” from its platforms.
The song, which gained massive popularity during the recent local body elections in Kerala, is a parody based on a famous Lord Ayyappa devotional tune. It addresses the controversial Sabarimala gold theft case, specifically mentioning the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty.
Satheesan’s Stand on Artistic Freedom
Satheesan’s letter to Meta comes after the Kerala Cyber Police registered an FIR against the song, alleging it “hurts religious sentiments.” The Opposition Leader argued that the song is a form of political satire and does not target any religion. He requested Meta to refrain from disabling links to the song unless a competent court issues a specific directive or if the content is found to be in clear violation of Meta’s independent Community Standards.
”The government is attempting to suppress freedom of expression by using the police. This is an encroachment on artistic freedom,” Satheesan said during a press conference. He also pointed out the perceived hypocrisy of the CPI(M), claiming the party had used a parody of the same devotional song years ago to mock former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran.
Political Backdrop
The “Pottiye Kettiye” song has become a flashpoint between the UDF and the ruling LDF. While the government maintains the song is offensive to devotees, the UDF claims the move to ban it is a desperate attempt to hide the gold theft allegations that have embarrassed the administration.
As the legal battle over the song continues, Satheesan’s direct appeal to the global tech giant Meta marks a new chapter in the intersection of Kerala politics and social media regulation.
