‘Shameful, Nasty’: Singapore Minister Slams Racist Posts Targeting Indians Over Nepal Floods, Orders Probe

Last Updated:September 06, 2026, 3:56 PM IST

Singapore probes racist online remarks targeting Indians during Nepal disaster discussions. Minister K Shanmugam called comments ‘shameful,nasty’.

Senior Minister K Shanmugam (Credits: Reuters)

Singapore launched a probe into offensive online remarks targeting Indians after a series of racist and xenophobic posts surfaced during discussions around the disaster in Nepal.

Senior Minister K Shanmugam on Saturday said such remarks had no place in Singapore and described them as “shameful, nasty, totally unacceptable”. He said he had directed the police to examine the posts and determine who was behind them.

“The media tells me that they had to remove several comments because they were so nasty. I don’t know if all the comments are all made by Singaporeans. But, I will say this – the comments are shameful, nasty, totally unacceptable,” Shanmugam said.

“I have asked police to look into these comments,” he added.

Shanmugam, who also serves as Home Affairs Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, said the government would take the matter up with social media companies. The Ministry of Digital Development and Information is expected to approach the platforms and seek the removal of posts that breach their rules.

The controversy emerged as people discussed the deadly disaster in Nepal, including the fate of Singaporeans reported missing in the affected areas. Shanmugam pointed to some of the comments that had appeared online, including one that read, “no, they are not our own”. He said some of the words used in the posts were derogatory towards Indians.

Singapore maintains strong economic ties with India and is India’s biggest trading partner among the Asean member states.

Nepal Continues Search For Missing

The online controversy comes as Nepal continues to deal with the devastating impact of an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26.

A massive flow of water and debris then travelled through the Bhotekoshi River, causing destruction in several settlements in northern and central parts of the country.

The scale of the disaster has left rescue teams facing a major challenge. Nepal Police said 1,344 people had died, while close to 5,000 remained missing. More than 13,100 people have so far been rescued.

Identifying those who died has also become a difficult part of the recovery operation. Several bodies were found in a badly damaged or decomposed condition, while some human remains were recovered in separate parts.

To establish the identities of those who are yet to be identified, Nepal Police has begun taking DNA samples from family members of missing people. The samples will be used to match unidentified bodies and human remains recovered after the disaster.

Quick Answers

Powered by

Ask News18

Why did Singapore’s Senior Minister K Shanmugam order a probe into online posts?

Senior Minister K Shanmugam ordered a police probe into online remarks targeting Indians because he deemed them “shameful, nasty, totally unacceptable” and derogatory. These posts surfaced during discussions about the Nepal floods and the fate of missing Singaporeans, prompting concerns about racism and xenophobia.

What actions did Singapore take against racist social media posts targeting Indians in June 2026?

In June 2026, Singapore ordered social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and X to block access to 14 posts targeting the Indian community. These actions were taken under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) to counter content that undermined Singapore’s multiculturalism and spread misleading claims about Indians “taking over” the country.

What was the origin of the social media posts targeting the Indian community in Singapore?

Investigations revealed that the problematic social media content targeting the Indian community in Singapore likely originated from a China-based platform. These posts were subsequently shared across other platforms and websites, spreading claims that Indians were “taking over” Singapore and undermining its multicultural identity.

Powered by

Ask News18

About the Author

Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More

Read More