Indian FS Vikram Misri locks X account amid vicious trolling campaign; Daughter also targeted
New Delhi: India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, has protected his account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) following a barrage of online abuse allegedly orchestrated by right-wing trolls. The coordinated harassment started after a ceasefire was announced between India and Pakistan on May 10, following a period of heightened military tensions dubbed "Operation Sindoor."
Vikram Misri should be Abused. He took the decision of Ceasefire, PM was just a messenger!#VikramMisri pic.twitter.com/m4ZzzPnrsy
— Arpit Sharma (@iarpitspeaks_) May 11, 2025
The trolls are said to have dug up old tweets of Misri and his family and launched personal attacks. The situation escalated further as Misri's daughter was also dragged into the controversy. Reports on social media allege that her mobile number was shared, and she was subjected to vicious abuse. Social media discussions suggested that the diplomat's daughter had previously advocated for Rohingya rights, which was purportedly used as a pretext by trolls.
The online troll against a top-ranking diplomat and his family has drawn widespread condemnation. Many have pointed out the irony of trolls, who were previously lauding Misri as a "patriotic Kashmiri Pandit," suddenly turning against him.
Several public figures and social media users have voiced their disgust at the targeted harassment.
Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), defended the Foreign Secretary, stating on X: "Mr Vikram Misri is a decent and an Honest Hard working Diplomat working tirelessly for our Nation. Our Civil Servants work under the Executive this must be remembered & they shouldn’t be blamed for the decisions taken by The Executive /or any Political leadership running Watan E Aziz."
Mr Vikram Misri is a decent and an Honest Hard working Diplomat working tirelessly for our Nation.
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 11, 2025
Our Civil Servants work under the Executive this must be remembered & they shouldn’t be blamed for the decisions taken by The Executive /or any Political leadership running Watan E… https://t.co/yfM3ygfiyt
Journalist Abhisar Sharma also strongly condemned the trolling. In a statement shared on social media, he remarked (translated from Hindi): "Now the limit has been crossed — is the 'sanskaari' propaganda machine now trolling Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri? Don't you have any shame? Vikram Misri is the same person who was strongly presenting India's diplomatic image to the world during this crisis. He was India's face at the international level... And now questions are being raised against him? ...This trolling is not just unethical, it is an attack on the morale of professionals serving the country. Those so-called 'sanskaari' goons targeting a respected officer like the Foreign Secretary, their patriotism is just a sham. They have no concern for the country or service — their loyalty is only to hatred, and their blind devotion is only to one political party. Those who are making obscene comments about the family of a senior officer, even his children, are actually a disgrace to society. There can be no bigger traitors than them. Shame on you — in the name of 'patriotism' you are only spewing venom."
अब तो हद हो गई है — अब संस्कारी प्रचारतंत्र विदेश सचिव विक्रम मिस्री @VikramMisri को ट्रोल कर रहा है? तुम्हें ज़रा भी शर्म नहीं आती?
— Abhisar Sharma (@abhisar_sharma) May 11, 2025
विक्रम मिस्री वही व्यक्ति हैं जो इस संकट में भारत की कूटनीतिक छवि को दुनिया के सामने मजबूती से रख रहे थे। वो भारत का चेहरा थे इंटरनेशनल स्तर पर,… pic.twitter.com/xfTpulPO06
Pratik Sinha, co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, in his post on X said, "36 hours ago, media was telling Modi supporters that Karachi has been destroyed. Since last evening they are having to not only deal with the fact that all of that was a lie, but also that Trump is showing Modi his place. How do they express what they are feeling? Through such toxicity, attacking a bureaucrat and his daughter, because they don't have the ethical bone to call a spade a spade, that is nothing can happen without Modi giving a green light."
36 hours ago, media was telling Modi supporters that Karachi has been destroyed. Since last evening they are having to not only deal with the fact that all of that was a lie, but also that Trump is showing Modi his place. How do they express what they are feeling? Through such… https://t.co/tyqYqVe3xf
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) May 11, 2025
Alt News Co-Founder Mohammed Zubair in his post on X lamented, "First they went after Himanshi Narwal, The Wife of the Navy Officer Vinay Narwal. And now the same trolls are going after the Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri and his daughter, Abusing and sharing her mobile number."
Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri has now protected his account.
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 11, 2025
Reason: Right wing trolls were digging out his old tweets with his family and abusing them. https://t.co/fuAE3A8fYc pic.twitter.com/yQpfQqaKKq
Numerous other social media users expressed their outrage.
One user described it as "the most heartbreaking thing," questioning the "intolerance" and emphasising that Misri is a civil servant, not a political leader responsible for government decisions.
There are growing calls for the government to take stringent action against those involved in the abuse and ensure the safety and dignity of its officials and their families.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Cong candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in voter list, wins
Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
