Cyber Crime
Noida DM’s X Account Allegedly Hacked, Offensive Post on Rahul Gandhi Sparks Outrage
NOIDA: The official X account (formerly known as Twitter) of Manish Kumar Verma, the District Magistrate (DM) of Gautam Buddh Nagar, was allegedly hacked on Friday. The account, which has over 203K followers, became the center of a controversy after a derogatory remark against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was posted from it.
Supriya Shrinate Shares the Post, Sparks Controversy
Congress leader and spokesperson Supriya Shrinate took to X to share a screenshot of the offensive tweet, which came from DM Verma’s official account. In the tweet, the district magistrate allegedly referred to Rahul Gandhi as “Pappu,” a term often used by BJP leaders to mock the Congress leader’s intelligence.
In response to the post, Shrinate tweeted, “He is DM Noida, he is responsible for the entire district. His language and thoughts about the country’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi must be seen. It is clear that the administrative staff is full of Sanghis – and now they are fanning hatred by sitting on constitutional posts.”
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DM’s Account Allegedly Hacked
It appears that DM Manish Kumar Verma’s X account was hacked or misused to post the offensive remark. The tweet has since been deleted, but not before sparking significant political outrage. The district magistrate has not yet made an official statement regarding the alleged hacking.
The “Pappu” Controversy
The term “Pappu” has frequently been used by BJP leaders and supporters as a derogatory nickname for Rahul Gandhi. The label implies a lack of intelligence and has been a focal point of political attacks against the Congress leader. This latest incident adds fuel to an already heated political climate, raising questions about the misuse of official social media accounts for political agendas.
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Shrinate’s Strong Criticism
Supriya Shrinate’s criticism of the tweet was scathing, accusing the administrative staff of harboring pro-BJP sentiments. She called for accountability, stating that officials holding constitutional posts should not engage in, or be associated with, hateful rhetoric.
Unclear Motives Behind the Hacking
While it remains unclear who may have hacked or misused the district magistrate’s account, the incident has brought the issue of cybersecurity for public officials into the spotlight. The hacking of a high-profile government official’s social media account could have far-reaching implications for public trust in the digital communication systems used by administrators.
Awaiting Official Clarification
As of now, no official statement has been made by DM Manish Kumar Verma regarding the alleged hack. The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration is expected to release a clarification soon, and it is yet to be seen whether any investigation into the hacking will be initiated.