MEA to X-mark ‘MEA Bharat’, claims no link with ministry — ‘Misleading public, undermining public interest’ | Today’s news
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday flagged X’s account, MEA Bharat, saying the account with 19.4 lakh followers has no connection with the government and is impersonating the ministry to mislead users.
“We have come across an account on X, @MEABharat. This account has absolutely no connection with the ministry,” MEA said, sharing a screenshot of the fake account’s profile, which shows the branding “Ministry of External Affairs Bharat”.
The ministry advised everyone to “exercise due caution” and said the account “impersonates the identity of the ministry and deceives the public and undermines the public interest.”
About MEA Bharat
MEA Bharat has branded itself as the official X account of the Bharat Ministry of External Affairs. The account, which first joined the platform in September 2023, has published 172 posts, follows only 14 accounts, and has approximately 19,400 followers.
The account primarily reposts official content from sources such as PMO India related to diplomatic and government affairs.
However, the MEA Bharat account last reposted a PMO in India post in June 2024. There has been no activity on the account since then.
MEA condemns attack on tanker off Oman coast
India today strongly condemned the recent attack on the Cypriot-flagged commercial tanker GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman. The incident has raised serious concerns regarding international maritime security, especially as the search for the missing Indian national continues.
A commercial tanker was reportedly hit by Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz. The attack reportedly occurred after the vessel ignored instructions to follow a designated approved route.
“Our embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and is proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation. We thank the Omani authorities for their support,” the MEA said in a statement.
The government also said the ongoing attacks on commercial shipping were deeply concerning. She repeated the call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and the conclusion of negotiations on a diplomatic solution.
The Omani Maritime Administration successfully rescued 23 crew members from the stricken vessel. The crew included 11 Indian nationals. While 10 of these individuals have been safely rescued, one Indian national remains missing.
