For Sagarika Ghose and Rajdeep Sardesai, social media trolling, especially by the right-wing trolls is not something new, but this time it has taken an ugly turn. Trolls are dragging their children in public domain and questioning irregularities in their admission procedures. I don’t understand the need of dragging family members in fights on any account.

Bhakts, be warned. Threatening and intimidating my kids will not shut me up, in fact my resolve will only grow stronger to fight the evil forces you represent. To use Arundhati Roy's words, if you cut off my head, even my severed head will keep speaking! Good night — Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) February 10, 2018

I remember sometime back Sagarika had taken a break from Twitter when she got rape threats, which hinted that they knew where her daughter studied. Imagine how terrifying it must be for a mother who might be too worried or confused on whether to take such threats seriously or not.

I think that it’s fine for someone to disagree with Rajdeep or Sagarika, but making such vile personal threats for saying things that do not adhere to their political allegiance is not justified. It just shows how deprived and frustrated that person is who slanders you by trashing your work, calling names, abusing and even launching hate campaigns to destroy you.

@sagarikaghose is free to talk about @narendramodi's wife, but Ishan Sardesai has the right to privacy! — Voice of Rajasthan ? (@kuldeepkarwasr7) February 11, 2018

This is not the first time that right-wing trolls have attacked Sagarika and Rajdeep. There have been instances where they even mocked for their goof ups or misread facts, but this time it has taken an ugly turn involving family.

The whole issue started with Prashant P. Umrao questioning Ishan Sardesai’s admission in Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University. What followed was series of attack carried out by right-wing trolls saying all kind of things about Rajdeep and Sagarika. I can understand that advocate Prashant wanted to expose irregularities in Kasturba Medical College – he alleges that Ishan secured admission under the NRI quota violating the regulation, but this should be dealt with legally outside twitter.

Dilip Sardesai f/o Rajdeep was arrested by Mumbai police in 1993 in connection with foreign exchange regulation act violations, involving $6.89 million. https://t.co/jwSgS171Ij — Prashant Patel Umrao (@ippatel) February 6, 2018

Dear @sardesairajdeep Is it true that your Son Ishan got admission at MBBS in Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University in 2013 on NRI quota w/o having merit after paying ₹ 1Cr by violating rules? — Prashant Patel Umrao (@ippatel) February 7, 2018

Some of them started name calling, slamming their work, and even questioning their work of ethics. Some others even called them out saying that they are paid journalists making money illegally. I mean all this for saying things which you don’t agree or don’t fit into your political ideology?

Hope you have got your own medicine this time – with seemingly high dosage! How does it feel to involve one's family btw!

Anything bubbly you or your bunty have done in past? #MirchiLagi ???#LLRC — Ash @ KnowledgePP (@rainaashutosh) February 11, 2018

I sometimes wonder- do these people want every well-known person disagreeing with their political ideology leaving twitter or any social media? Maybe Indians take offence at everything – including a harmless joke on their favourite celebrity or a statement against their political ideology. Trolls are frustrated people who are not happy their life, hiding under the tweet box under cloud anonymity so that they can attack and slander well-known people.

Trying to put an end to the allegation, Sagarika tried to clear the air with tweets to prove that there was no irregularity in his son’s admission, and repeatedly requesting people not to drag family into unnecessary trolling but trolls were no mood to listen.

Thanks for this, dear. The reason am fighting so hard is that I saw how hard Ishan worked, how difficult it all was, in 2013 with NEET/ individual exams etc etc..and it just burns me up that people can make such foul filthy allegations — Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) February 10, 2018

Admission procedures at @ManipalUni are impeccable, thoroughly professional, immune from graft, the PRECISE REASON why the Univ is so highly ranked among medical colleges. Anyone throwing mud is only wallowing in muck and filth themselves and resentful of excellence — Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) February 11, 2018

How sad, pathetic and full of resentment are the lives of those who heap venom on the children of their perceived enemies to destroy youthful careers. How awful they are, how sick, how mindless, how evil — Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) February 10, 2018

Many of them came forward to extend their support and solidarity towards Sagarika and Rajdeep, which included Swara Bhaskar, who has faced cyberbullying herself.

After getting into our kitchens to check 4 #Beef , our bedrooms to check for alleged Muslim lovers #LoveJehad ; bhakt crazies now invading families to check the college applications of children #Pathetic – In solidarity with parents @sagarikaghose @sardesairajdeep #StayStrong — Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 10, 2018

Let’s learn to disagree with people and have a discussion with dignity than indulging in name calling and slander.

‘Slander is the tool of a loser when a debate is lost.’ – Socrates