Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, India’s most distinguished diplomat, has been targeted by despicable online abuse after his contribution to the announcement of a ceasefire deal with Pakistan. Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh have been updating the media on Operation Sindoor, a key response operation after the Pahalgam terror attack.
But when the ceasefire deal became public, social media users started going after Misri with personal abuses. To everybody’s surprise, the abuse escalated to his daughter, Didon Misri, leading the Foreign Secretary to lock his X (previously Twitter) account.
Why the Trolling Began Against Vikram Misri
On May 10, India and Pakistan mutually agreed to suspend all military activity on land, sea, and air. The move, following four intense days of drone and missile bombardments, was announced by Foreign Secretary Misri in a press conference.
He said that the Directors General of Military Operations of both nations had sat down and would continue to meet. This ceasefire, regarded as a diplomatic breakthrough by most, infuriated some right-wing sections on the net who had insisted on a resounding retaliatory attack on Pakistan. Misri, being the face of the announcement, felt the brunt of their wrath.
The trolling grew more aggressive when users started attacking his daughter, Didon Misri, who lives in London and works for international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. Allegations that she had offered legal assistance to Rohingya refugees prompted a torrent of hate, including doxxing and abuse.
Criticism from Across the Political Divide
As the trolling mounted, a number of politicians, diplomats, and associations came out in defense of Misri.
The IAS Association stated, “The IAS Association stands in solidarity with Shri Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary, & his family. Unwarranted personal attacks on civil servants serving their nation with integrity are regrettable.”
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted, “Mr Vikram Misri is a good and an honest hard-working diplomat working day and night for our Nation. Our civil servants work under the Executive…they shouldn’t be held responsible for the decisions made by…any Political leadership operating Watan E Aziz.”
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… https://t.co/yfM3ygfiyt— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 11, 2025
The IRTS Association also denounced the trolling: “We request everyone to uphold respect and decorum, considering his devoted service and immense contributions towards the nation.”
Diplomats and Bureaucrats Come Out in Support of Vikram Misri
Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao did not mince words. “It’s shameful to troll Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his family…Doxxing his daughter and harassing his loved ones crosses every line of decency,” she stated. “Stand united behind our diplomats, not tear them down.”
It’s utterly shameful to troll Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his family over the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement. A dedicated diplomat, Misri has served India with professionalism and resolve, and there is no ground whatsoever for his vilification . Doxxing his…
— Nirupama Menon Rao ?? (@NMenonRao) May 11, 2025
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, while talking to NDTV, remarked, “I can’t understand who on earth would troll and why? What could they be critical of, and what could these people have done differently or better?”
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav further stated that such abuse demoralises officials serving the nation with dedication. He also criticized the BJP government for failing to act against hate spreaders.
Other senior bureaucrats, such as V Srinivas, Secretary of Administrative Reforms, and Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs, highlighted Misri’s commitment and demanded respect for civil servants.
Even comedian Vir Das came to Misri’s defence, writing, “Vikram Misri was amazing, so were Colonel Sophiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Wyomika Singh. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.”
A Dignified Career Under Attack
Vikram Misri’s credentials make the trolling even more baffling. Born in Srinagar in 1964, he began his diplomatic journey on the Pakistan desk at the Ministry of External Affairs after joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1989.
Over the years, he served as private secretary to three prime ministers: IK Gujral, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi. Between January 2022 and June 2024, Misri served as Deputy National Security Adviser.
His selection as Foreign Secretary on July 15, 2024, was generally interpreted as an acknowledgment of his diplomatic acumen and strategic insight. He has served in the most sensitive geopolitical environments, so no one can question his integrity.
The Bigger Question: Where Is Accountability?
Notwithstanding the publicized backing for Misri, the Ministry of External Affairs has thus far failed to come out with an official denunciation of the maltreatment. Such silence is worrying in regards to the exposure of public servants and their families in the age of digital media.
Social media, while a tool of democracy, has increasingly become a breeding ground for hate and disinformation. The doxxing of Misri’s daughter and the lack of official action signal a troubling normalization of online abuse against civil servants.
Public servants operate under the direction of elected governments. Blaming them for national policy decisions reflects a dangerous misunderstanding of how democratic governance works.
