India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, has become the subject of a storm of vile online abuse, a fallout of his role in the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on May 10. The ceasefire was declared following a chilling series of escalations, particularly after a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 civilians. India accused Pakistan-backed militants of carrying out the attack, prompting retaliatory attacks and increased tensions between the two nations.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Trolled After India, Pakistan Ceasefire Announcement
Vikram Misri has been a diplomat for more than three decades, having held principal positions like Ambassador of India in China and as Deputy National Security Advisor. Foreign Secretary, starting from July 2024. After the ceasefire was announced, Misri was bombarded with derogatory tweets on social media by right-wing social media activists who accused him of being soft on Pakistan. His family was not spared, and personal information about his daughter was posted, a common trend referred to as doxxing. Misri responded by closing down his social media accounts to safeguard the privacy of his family. Here’s what some of the troll comments looked like,
Journalists and public personalities responded to the harassment in outrage. Fact-checker Mohammed Zubair pointed out the harassment to which Misri and his family were subjected. Journalist Sucheta Dalal condemned the silence of bureaucratic institutions, urging them to act against such harassment. Swati Chaturvedi called for action against the people who had harassed Misri’s daughter, pointing out that the harassment had crossed all limits.
Also Read: India, Pakistan Reach Ceasefire Agreement After Intense Military Clash, Airspace Reopens
A large section of social media users pointed out a fundamental misunderstanding of the diplomat’s role, pointing out that it is the government, not individual diplomats, that makes decisions in foreign policy. Senior journalist Vir Sanghvi had called the trolls who attacked Vikram Misri human garbage, praising Vikram Misri’s dedication and service to the country. Another user was saddened by the failures of the country, regretting that women are beaten up as a result of political choices.
As of now, Vikram Misri has locked his Twitter account to avoid the trolling.
Also Read: Will India Go To War With Pakistan? 5 Key Updates On The Ceasefire Violations