Frontline Editor Trolled For Her Critique On The Name "Operation Sindoor"
In the early hours of Wednesday, the Indian Armed Forces launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting nine terror hideouts across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
According to India’s Defence Ministry, in the precise and restrained response to the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali citizen, focused strikes were carried out. Several women were widowed in the Pahalgam terror attack, an emotional detail that many believe inspired the name Operation Sindoor, reportedly chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Also, Why People Say ‘Operation Sindoor’ A ‘Perfect Name’ For India’s Response To Pahalgam Attack
However, the symbolic use of the word Sindoor has not gone unchallenged. Vaishna Roy, editor of Frontline magazine, took to social media to express her discomfort with the name.
In a post on X, she wrote: “On principle, I object strongly to the label Operation Sindoor. It reeks of patriarchy, ownership of women, ‘honour’ killings, chastity, sacralising the institution of marriage, and similar Hindutva obsessions.”
Her critique quickly went viral, drawing heavy criticism. Within hours, her post became a lightning rod for right-wing backlash.
The editor of "Frontiline" Vaishna Roy has been viciously trolled by shameless Right Wing trolls because of this Tweet. Spread it far and wide. pic.twitter.com/5M4Nbt0i7X
— ParanjoyGuhaThakurta (@paranjoygt) May 7, 2025
Prominent social media influencers, politicians, and anonymous accounts flooded her mentions with abuse.
Also, read| Meet Colonel Sophia Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Who Briefed ‘Operation Sindoor’
Many accused her of disrespecting the sentiments of victims’ families and of “intellectualising tragedy.” Some went further, resorting to sexist slurs and personal attacks, calling her a “dumb feminist” and questioning her credibility and patriotism. The relentless backlash eventually led her to lock her social media profile.
Classic example of a Dumb feminist who blabbers against patriarchy online but is the first one to jump on the shoulders of a man to get rescued in any disaster
Did you @vaishnaroy condemn the killing of only Men, on principle, during #PahalgamTerroristAttack ?? pic.twitter.com/bZKOXoo2k4
— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@दीपिकाभारद्वाज) May 7, 2025
Several right-wing figures joined the wave of trolling and cyberbullying against Vaishna Roy in response to her criticism of the name Operation “Sindoor.”
Such a coward @vaishnaroy, locked her profile and ran away! pic.twitter.com/IcqgWBtKu9
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) May 7, 2025
Social media, particularly X, was quickly flooded with memes and ridicule targeting her. From graphics to edited videos, meme pages and individual users alike seized on her comment, often stripping it of context to mock her stance.
First thing – Yet another delinquent juvenile woke bongali @vaishnaroy reminded me up to this meme. pic.twitter.com/0zTMBaFjb4
— Brahma (@Brahma9909) May 7, 2025
Who’s this idiot @vaishnaroy? pic.twitter.com/4klxQnsYus
— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) May 7, 2025
The term “sindoor” holds cultural significance in Hindu tradition, symbolising the marital status of a woman.
Many posted on social media that the operation’s name serves as a tribute to the victims and a signal of resolve against religiously motivated violence.
The strikes, aimed at camps belonging to terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba—including their strongholds in Bahawalpur and Muridke were described by defence officials as a “measured, non-escalatory” response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead.
