‘Satire must remain free’: Cartoonists push back after Meta blocks works by Satish Acharya, Manjul
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After Meta restricted the work of political cartoonists Satish Acharya and Manjul about the Election Commission in India, their colleagues responded with cartoons of their own, saying that “satire must remain free”.
Acharya’s Instagram account has been restricted in India after the Meta-owned platform received a legal request from the government. Manjul, also said that Instagram had restricted one of his works about the Election Commission to users in India “pursuant to a notice from the Government of India/Law Enforcement”.
Rachita Taneja, who goes by the name “Sanitary Panels”, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to satire.
Satish Acharya and Manjul, two of India's leading political cartoonists, are facing restrictions by Meta on their cartoons mocking the Election Commission of India.https://t.co/5oSQzVfYM7@satishacharya @MANJULtoons pic.twitter.com/19rFgqbec5
— Sanitary Panels (@sanitarypanels) September 30, 2026
Sandeep Adhwaryu, chief cartoonist at The Times of India, made a point about freedom of expression.
The tambourine in place of the alphabet “O” in his illustration is a reference to Modi’s appearance at a “bhajan clubbing” event in Delhi on September 25, where he was seen holding and playing the instrument.
Satire must remain free. Standing with @MANJULtoons @satishacharya #FreedomOfExpression pic.twitter.com/ojOYZ4MfmW
— Sandeep Adhwaryu 🇮🇳 (@CartoonistSan) September 30, 2026
Sajith Kumar, a senior cartoonist with Deccan Herald, poked fun at the prime minister’s inability to take “pointed jokes”.
With @satishacharya @MANJULtoons pic.twitter.com/AXchPkIjMk
— sajithkumar (@sajithkumar) September 30, 2026
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