New Delhi: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri locked his X account after facing a torrent of social media abuse in the wake of India’s recent conflict with Pakistan. Misri, who became the target of right-wing accounts accusing him of being a “traitor,” was criticized for his role in the ceasefire announcement following the brief war.

The controversy erupted after Misri’s role in the Ministry of External Affairs’ briefings during the four-day conflict with Pakistan, dubbed Operation Sindoor. He announced the ceasefire on Saturday evening, which led to aggressive backlash from Hindutva-aligned social media accounts.

Critics targeted Misri personally, bringing up past family posts and targeting his daughter for her studies abroad. She had previously interned with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Myanmar, which led to accusations of providing aid to Rohingya Muslims.

The trolling incident has drawn responses from political figures. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul MP Asaduddin Owaisi defended Misri, stating that bureaucrats carry out the decisions made by the executive and should not be held personally accountable.

The Congress’s Kerala unit linked Misri’s situation to a previous incident involving Lieutenant Vinay Narwal’s widow, who was similarly targeted for her peace advocacy. They criticized the ruling party’s supporters, suggesting that the BJP is struggling with the consequences of its own strategies.

Adding to the criticism, People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Mohit Bhan commented on the misuse of nationalism as a guise for hate.

Despite the intense online vitriol, no official response or support has yet been offered by members of the Modi government, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, leaving Misri to face the onslaught alone.