Facebook’s systematic interference in India’s electoral politics must stop: Sonia Gandhi

India's main opposition Congress party President Sonia Gandhi today alleged "systematic interference" by Facebook and other social media giants in the country's electoral politics.

Making a Zero Hour submission in the Lok Sabha, Sonia referred to a report published in Al Jazeera and The Reporters' Collective, claiming that Facebook had offered BJP cheaper deals for election advertisements as compared to other political parties.

"I urge the government to put an end to the systematic interference and influence of Facebook and other social media giants in the electoral politics of the world's largest democracy. This is beyond partisan politics," she said.

"We need to protect democracy and social harmony regardless of who is in power," Our New Delhi correspondent quoted Sonia as saying.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi also attacked Facebook and alleged that it was "worse for democracy".

Sharing a compilation of news reports on his Twitter handle, Rahul accused the social media giant of helping the BJP outreach to voters during the elections.

"Meta-worse for democracy," he said on Twitter.