By Sunil Jena
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia
Puri/Bhubaneswar : The political debate surrounding alleged helicopter movement near the Jagannath Temple area in Puri has intensified further after Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo claimed that her Facebook account was blocked after she posted videos and comments related to the issue.
In a public message addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sulata Deo alleged that her Facebook (Meta) account was stopped shortly after she uploaded videos questioning aerial movement near the sensitive Srimandir zone.
In her statement, she wrote:
Respected Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi ji…
After I posted several videos of your MP moving over Srimandir on another MP's helicopter, Facebook (Meta) stopped my Facebook account.
Is your government fearing a lady?
Are you not shedding crocodile tears for us women?
Regard…— sulata deo (@SulataDeoMP) May 25, 2026Advertisement
“After I posted several videos of your MP moving over Srimandir on another MP’s helicopter, Facebook (Meta) stopped my Facebook account. Is your government fearing a lady?”
The BJD leader further questioned whether women voices critical of the government were being suppressed and urged the Prime Minister to respond to the issue.
The controversy originally began after social media discussions emerged over helicopter visuals allegedly linked to Balangir MP Sangeeta Singh Deo and her daughter near the Puri temple region. Opposition leaders questioned whether any special permissions had been granted for aerial movement or photography around the Jagannath Temple area, which is considered highly sensitive from a security perspective.
Sulata Deo had earlier demanded an inquiry into the matter and warned that the issue could be raised in Parliament. The latest claim regarding her Facebook account has now added a new political and digital censorship angle to the controversy.
The debate has since expanded beyond temple security and aviation permissions into allegations surrounding freedom of expression, political targeting and the role of social media platforms in moderating political content.
At the time of reporting, neither Meta nor government authorities had issued any detailed clarification regarding the alleged account restriction claim made by the Rajya Sabha MP.
Political observers believe the issue is likely to remain a major talking point in Odisha politics in the coming days, especially as opposition parties continue to target the BJP government over governance and institutional transparency.
