MEA flags ‘MEA Bharat’ on X, says no link to ministry — ‘Misleading public, undermining public interest’
MEA advised all “to exercise due caution,” saying that the account “is impersonating the Ministry.”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday flagged an X account, MEA Bharat, saying the account, with 19.4K followers, has no affiliation 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 linkage to the Ministry,” the MEA said, sharing a screenshot of the fake account's profile, showing “Ministry of External Affairs Bharat” branding.
The ministry advised all “to exercise due caution,” saying that the account “is impersonating the Ministry and misleading the public and undermining public interest.”
About MEA Bharat
MEA Bharat has branded itself as the official X account of the Ministry of External Affairs Bharat. The account, which first joined the platform in September 2023, has posted 172 times, follows just 14 accounts, and has around 19,400 followers.
The account primarily reposts official content from sources such as PMO India on diplomatic and government matters.
However, the MEA Bharat account last reposted a PMO India post in June 2024. There has been no activity from the account since.
MEA condemns attack on tanker off Oman coast
Earlier today, India strongly condemned the recent attack on the Cyprus-flagged commercial tanker, GFS Galaxy, off the coast of Oman. The incident has sparked serious concerns regarding international maritime security, particularly as search efforts continue for a missing Indian national.
The commercial tanker was reportedly struck by Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz. The attack allegedly occurred after the vessel ignored instructions to follow the designated approved route.
"Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation. We thank Omani authorities for their support," the MEA said in a statement.
The government also said that ongoing attacks on commercial shipping were deeply worrisome. It reiterated the call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and the conclusion of negotiations for a diplomatic solution.
Oman's maritime authority successfully rescued 23 crew members from the stricken vessel. The crew included 11 Indian citizens. While 10 of these individuals have been safely rescued, one Indian national remains missing.
About the Author
Arshdeep Kaur is a Senior Content Producer at Mint, where she reports and edits across national and international politics, business and culture‑adjacent trending stories for digital audience. With five years in the newsroom, she strives to balance the speed and rigor of fast‑moving news cycles and longer, context‑rich explainers. <br><br> Before joining LiveMint, Arshdeep served as a Senior Sub‑Editor at Business Standard and earlier as a Sub‑Editor at Asian News International (ANI). Her experience spans live news flows, enterprise features, and multi‑platform packaging. <br><br> At Mint, she regularly writes explainers, quick takes, and visuals‑led stories that are optimized for search and social, while maintaining the publication’s standards for accuracy and clarity. She collaborates closely with editors and the audience team to frame angles that resonate with readers in India and abroad, and to translate complex developments into accessible, high‑impact journalism. <br><br> Arshdeep's academic training underpins her interest towards policy and markets. She earned an MA in Economics from Panjab University and holds a Post‑Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the India Today Media Institute (ITMI). This blend of economics and broadcast storytelling informs her coverage of public policy, elections, macro themes, and the consumer‑internet zeitgeist. <br><br> Arshdeep is based in New Delhi, where she tracks breaking developments and longer‑horizon storylines that shape public discourse.
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