Politicians and Diplomats Condemn Targeted Abuse After Ceasefire Announcement
New Delhi, May 11 — Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who announced the India-Pakistan ceasefire on May 10, has faced a wave of social media trolling, but received strong backing from several senior voices, including veteran diplomat Nirupama Menon Rao and politicians Asaduddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav.Misri was targeted online after he disclosed that India and Pakistan had agreed to immediately halt all military actions on land, air, and sea, following four days of escalating drone and missile strikes. The decision, reached during a hotline conversation between the Director Generals of Military Operations of both countries, was scheduled to be followed up with further talks on May 12.
Akhilesh Yadav Slams Government Silence
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed concern over the abusive posts directed at Misri and his family. In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Yadav said such attacks “break the morale of honest officers” who dedicate themselves to national service.He stressed that it is the government's role to make decisions, not individual officers, and criticised the ruling BJP for failing to stand up for Misri. “Some anti-social criminal elements are openly crossing all limits of abusive language against the officer and his family,” Yadav wrote. “But neither the BJP government nor its ministers are coming forward to protect his honour or discussing any action against those responsible.”
Nirupama Menon Rao Decries "Shameful" Targeting
Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao also issued a strong rebuke to those attacking Misri. “It's utterly shameful to troll Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his family over the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement,” she wrote on X.Rao added that Misri has served India “with professionalism and resolve” and called the doxxing of his daughter and abuse of his family “a line of decency that must not be crossed.” She urged unity among Indian diplomats and condemned the spread of toxic hate.
Owaisi: "Don’t Blame Civil Servants for Political Decisions"
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi also extended support, reminding critics that civil servants implement decisions taken by the political leadership. “Mr Vikram Misri is a decent, honest, hard-working diplomat working tirelessly for our nation,” he said.“Our civil servants work under the executive. This must be remembered, and they shouldn’t be blamed for decisions taken by the executive or any political leadership running Watan E Aziz,” Owaisi added.
Ceasefire Context and US Involvement
The ceasefire announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump made a surprise claim that the understanding between India and Pakistan had been “mediated” by the United States. However, Indian officials indicated the agreement was reached directly between the two nations' military channels without external intervention.Despite the significance of the ceasefire in de-escalating a potentially catastrophic conflict, the backlash against Misri highlights the challenges faced by public servants navigating high-stakes diplomacy in the age of social media.
