Differences of opinion are natural in a democracy. However, when people lack the ability to respond to opposing views through reason and debate, some individuals and organized groups choose obscenity as their weapon. What is happening today on social media platforms has reached a dangerous level. Instead of arguments, there are abuses; instead of evidence, there are false accusations; instead of discussions, there are threats; and instead of democratic dialogue, there is character assassination. Women journalists, social activists, human rights defenders, researchers, and scholars are increasingly becoming the primary targets of these attacks.

The recent culture of trolling is not merely a matter of offensive language. It is an attack on democratic values themselves. In the past, political disagreements were addressed through public meetings, newspaper articles, debates, and discussions. Today, many of those spaces are being replaced by fake accounts, organized troll networks, abusive videos, morphed photographs, and campaigns that target not only individuals but also their families. It appears that those who cannot win an argument are attempting to win through intimidation and vulgarity. This is not simply a decline in public discourse; it is a decline in democratic culture.

Against this backdrop, the meeting held at the Press Club in Somajiguda, Hyderabad, on June 19, 2026, emerged as an important democratic response. Prominent journalists, former editors, social commentators, women journalists, and activists came together to strongly condemn the growing culture of abusive trolling. Former editor Ramachandra Murthy, senior journalist Pasham Yadagiri, analyst N. Venugopal, Professor Nageshwar, Allam Narayana, television journalist Raghu, women journalists Vanaja and Tulasi Chandu, and social activists Sandhya and Krishna Kumari, among others, stood on a common platform and expressed their collective solidarity against this toxic trend.

The gathering was not merely a protest meeting. It was a warning to society. The participants emphasized that online attacks targeting journalists, women, and social activists are not attacks on individuals alone; they are attacks on democratic values. They pointed out that abusing people with obscene language, creating morphed images, humiliating women through sexually offensive remarks, and targeting family members instead of engaging with ideas and opinions are not characteristics of a civilized democratic society.

The statements made by several women journalists and activists at the meeting carried particular significance. Their message was clear: “You cannot silence us through abuse. You cannot intimidate us through morphed photographs. You cannot force us into silence through threats. We will continue to speak about public issues.” This was not merely a declaration of personal courage. It was a source of strength for thousands of women across the country who face similar harassment online.

History teaches us an important lesson. Every voice that spoke for social change was first ridiculed, then threatened, and eventually recognized as a force for progress. Those who fought for women's rights were mocked. Those who challenged caste discrimination were insulted. Journalists who exposed corruption were threatened. Yet history remembers not the trolls and abusers, but those who stood firm in defense of truth.

An important question also arises here. Victims repeatedly state that they have filed complaints with police stations, approached senior police officials, submitted representations to women's commissions, She Teams, and cybercrime authorities. Yet the situation often remains unchanged. This raises serious concerns. Are powerful political and financial interests protecting some of the groups involved in abusive trolling? Is this one reason why law enforcement agencies sometimes appear hesitant to act? These are questions that governments and police authorities must address transparently.

At the same time, there is another concern. When inappropriate comments are made against a prominent politician or film celebrity on social media, authorities often respond quickly. However, when women journalists face months of organized abuse and harassment, the same urgency is not always visible. If the law is equal for everyone, then protection under the law must also be equal for everyone.

Another important message that emerged from the meeting was the importance of solidarity. Speakers stressed that those who become targets of trolling should not be left isolated. Journalists' organizations, women's groups, democratic rights organizations, and civil society must work together. Collective action can often confront challenges that individuals cannot face alone.

The meeting also highlighted the need for concrete measures from both the central and state governments. Special fast-track mechanisms should be established for cases involving online violence against women. Organized troll networks should be identified and subjected to legal action. Cooperation with social media platforms must be strengthened to curb fake accounts and coordinated harassment campaigns. Police departments should be provided with greater technological resources and training. Most importantly, victims should not be forced to carry the burden of seeking justice entirely on their own.

Social media companies must also recognize their responsibilities. Freedom of expression cannot be used as a shield for abuse, threats, and harassment directed at women. If these platforms are to remain spaces for democratic discussion, they must adopt and enforce responsible policies.

At the end of this discussion, it is important to express solidarity with women journalists, social activists, and researchers. The work they do is essential for democracy. The questions they raise are important for society. The issues they bring into public debate affect the lives of ordinary people. That is precisely why some people seek to silence them. Yet history shows that those who rely on intimidation do not ultimately prevail. Those who stand for truth, justice, and equality are the ones who leave a lasting impact.

The message that emerged from the Somajiguda Press Club meeting was clear and powerful: “We are not afraid. We will not step back. We will not surrender to the culture of abusive trolling. We will continue our struggle to protect democratic values, defend freedom of expression, uphold the dignity of women, and safeguard the independence of journalism.” This message should inspire not only the people of the Telugu states but everyone across the country who believes in democracy.

Because abuse cannot write history. Threats cannot defeat the truth. Obscenity cannot imprison ideas. In the end, truth prevails, and democracy endures.