New Delhi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj late on Sunday evening retweeted—and thereby shared on social media--two instances of verbal abuse she had received after her ministry helped a couple who had alleged they were harassed by a passport official in Lucknow recently. One of those who verbally abused the minister asked if it was the effect of her “Islamic kidney”,  a crude disgraceful reference to the kidney ailment from which the minister had suffered from earlier. The minister returned to India on Sunday after her four-nation official visit to Europe.

According to recent media reports from Lucknow, a showcause notice had been issued last week to an official of the regional passport office in Lucknow who had allegedly harassed a couple from Noida and taunted them over their religion.

Promising action against the official, the regional passport officer had been quoted by media reports as saying, "Their passports have been issued. A showcause notice has been issued to the official who was at fault, action will also be taken. We regret the incident and will ensure it is not repeated.” Passport Seva Kendra official, Vikas Mishra Mishra had said in his defence that he was secular and had told the woman that her 'nikahnama' showed her name as Shazia Anas, which should be endorsed in her file.