On June 20, 2025, Instagram users across India were met with a  message: “Account withheld in India.” The target was The Savala Vada—a biting, politically astute Instagram meme page known for irreverent satire, fearless commentary, and sharp critique of the State. The takedown followed a legal request by the Indian government and was swiftly enforced by Meta.

The Savala Vada is more than a meme account. They are a chronicler of the absurdities of power, a cultural critic, and a columnist whose work with The Polis Project has helped make sense of a world sliding steadily toward repression. 

This is the latest chapter in a dangerous pattern: the Indian state using the machinery of legality to silence dissent, and Big Tech playing the role of willing enforcer. By now, we know that this is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader, brutal crackdown on free expression in India.

The targets are clear: journalists, artists, scholars, comedians, writers, and now, satirists and meme-makers—those who dare to speak in a voice not sanctioned by the state. With each platform ban, shadow-ban, takedown, or “withheld” account, we witness the consolidation of India’s blueprint for digital authoritarianism.

Meta is not neutral. In complying with opaque government takedown orders, it has aligned itself with state censorship. The Indian government drafts the edicts, Meta executes them without scrutiny or due process.

Together, they shape a digital regime where dissent isn’t just discouraged. It is deleted. 

At The Polis Project, we stand in unconditional solidarity with our columnist, The Savala Vada. Their voice is vital. We will continue to host and protect their work on our website—and we will find new ways to ensure that what was meant to be silenced is heard louder than ever.

Since our founding, The Polis Project has been a political and creative refuge, a digital home for dissidents, radical artists, and uncompromising witnesses across the world. That commitment has never wavered.

We stand, as we always have, with our contributors, columnists, and collaborators—especially when they come under attack.