Sushma Swaraj trolled for helping Lucknow interfaith couple in passport row
The minister shared some of the abusive messages she had received on Twitter.
Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj was trolled on Twitter on Sunday after a regional passport officer in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow was transferred for allegedly harassing an inter-faith couple.
Swaraj, who returned to India on Sunday after a week-long visit to four European nations, said she felt “honoured” that a few Twitter users had targeted her over a controversy. “I was out of India from 17th to 23rd June 2018,” the minister said. “I do not know what happened in my absence. However, I am honoured with some tweets. I am sharing them with you. So I have liked them.”
Mohammad Anas Siddiqui and his wife Tanvi Seth complained that an officer, Vikas Mishra, had asked Siddiqui to convert to Hinduism and instructed Seth to change her name in all her documents. After Seth tweeted to Swaraj and sought her help, DM Mulay – the secretary of passport, visa and overseas Indian affairs at the ministry – replied, saying he had sought a report from the regional passport officer and that “appropriate action” would be taken.
Mishra was served a show-cause notice and transferred.
Meanwhile, the Congress condemned Twitter users for targeting Swaraj, who regularly replies to people who seek her help and has often ordered appropriate action. “No matter the situation or reason, nothing calls for threats of violence, disrespect and abuse,” the party tweeted. “Sushma Swaraj ji, we applaud your decision to call out the heinous trolls of your own party.”