Sushma Swaraj trolled by Modi's followers: Congress
New Delhi, June 25: The Congress on Monday said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was trolled by none other than the followers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he encourages.
"We have seen that the trolls are being followed by Modiji. And the trolls are encouraged by Prime Minister. And now through trolls, a lady minister and one of the most senior BJP leader is being harassed," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said here.
He said that upset with the trolls, Sushma Swaraj "shared her pain with the country on Twitter only", in response to a question over the minister being trolled on the social media over a controversy involving the issuance of passport to an inter-faith couple.
Sushma Swaraj, who was on a visit to Italy, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the European Union, expressed her views on Twitter while "liking" some tweets abusing her.
"I am back in Delhi after my visit to Italy, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and European Union."
"I was out of India from 17th to 23rd June 2018. I do not know what happened in my absence. However, I am honoured with some tweets. I am sharing them with you. So I have liked them," she said in a series of tweets on Sunday.
The trolling came after Vikas Mishra, an officer in the regional passport office in Lucknow, was transferred after he allegedly humiliated an inter-faith couple, asking the woman to change her last name and the man to convert to Hinduism.
Later, passports were issued to the couple, who had complained to Sushma Swaraj, and they thanked her and her Ministry.
On Sunday, the Congress took on a section of social media, who attacked Sushma Swaraj and the ministry.
"No matter the situation or reason, nothing calls for threats of violence, disrespect and abuse. Sushma Swarajji, we applaud your decision to call out the heinous trolls of your own party," the Congress said in tweet.
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
