Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri faces heavy online criticism over ceasefire agreement with Pakistan, prompting him to make his social media account private.
On Sunday, social media users criticized Misri, who has recently represented India’s diplomatic stance in press briefings.
Users shared private images, contact information, and offensive remarks, launching personal assaults against his family, including his daughter.
The truce, which some war-mongering Indian nationalists interpreted as a capitulation to Pakistan, was announced before the assaults.
In some posts, Misri was called a “traitor” and “anti-national,” and his daughter’s citizenship was questioned.
India’s political leaders denounced the abuse. Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of AIMIM, defended Misri, arguing that political decisions shouldn’t be attributed to civil officials.
“Misri is an honest and committed diplomat. Owaisi stated that he shouldn’t be held responsible for the choices made by the political leadership.
Congressman Sachin Pilot also voiced his opinion, calling the trolling intolerable.
Pilot wrote, “Diplomats who put in a lot of effort for the country should not have to deal with this.”
Fact-checker Mohammed Zubair and journalist Swati Chaturvedi demanded action against the trolls, pointing to prior attacks on other people and pointing to a pattern of organized harassment.
The online abuse comes after US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on Saturday. The agreement was confirmed by both nations, and US Secretary of State Mark Rubio praised it and called for more communication.
