Mon May 12 04:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Top Congress Leader Defends Foreign Secretary Amidst Online Abuse Following India-Pakistan Ceasefire

**New Delhi** – Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has strongly defended Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who has been targeted by a wave of online abuse following the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement. Tharoor, in an exclusive interview with NDTV, called the trolling “preposterous” and praised Misri’s handling of the tense situation, commending his professionalism alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofia Qureshi.

The ceasefire, announced on May 10th after four days of cross-border hostilities, was brokered between the Director Generals of Military Operations of both countries. Misri’s announcement was followed by unsubstantiated claims from US President Donald Trump of US mediation, a claim the Ministry of External Affairs has not addressed.

However, Misri subsequently became the target of coordinated online attacks, including doxxing of his family. This has drawn widespread condemnation from various quarters. The IAS Association, the IRTS Association, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have all publicly voiced their support for Misri, criticizing the abuse and highlighting the unfair targeting of a civil servant. They emphasized that the government, not individual officers, is responsible for policy decisions.

While the Ministry of External Affairs has remained silent on the matter, concerns have been raised by retired diplomats about the precedent set by such attacks. Tharoor’s strong defense highlights the growing unease over the online harassment of public officials and the need for protection against such abuse.

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