Maldives suspends 3 ministers over remarks 'insulting' PM Modi, India
The Maldives government has suspended three of its ministers for their derogatory remarks on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A massive diplomatic row erupted after a Maldivian minister made comments mocking PM Modi over his recent visit to Lakshadweep. In a series of now-deleted tweets, Maldives Minister Mariyam Shiuna called him a "clown" and a "puppet of Israel." The situation escalated after several Maldivian ministers claimed Indian beaches fell short of the cleanliness standards maintained by the Maldives.
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On Thursday, PM Modi shared photos from his trip to Lakshadweep, praising the people there and the magnificent beauty of the islands. The post invited criticism from Maldives ministers, who accused India of "copying a small economy like Sri Lanka" to make money. Maldivian politician Zahid Rameez also posted a racist comment, asking, "How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall." He seemingly referred to the cleanliness standards of Indian hotels.
8,000 hotel bookings, 2,500 flight tickets canceled
As per local media, the suspended ministers are Shiuna, Malsha, and Hassan Zihan. "Those who made such posts on social media while in government positions have now been suspended from their jobs," the Maldives government said in a statement without revealing the names of those suspended. Amid the uproar, several netizens also announced that they had canceled their trip to the Maldives. Unverified reports claimed that over 8,000 hotel bookings and 2,500 flight tickets to the Maldives had been canceled.
Former Maldives president bashes 'appalling' comments on Modi, India
The ministers' tweets against PM Modi and India triggered a massive backlash on X, with former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed condemning the "appalling" posts. "What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives' security and prosperity," he tweeted. Nasheed also urged the current government led by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to distance itself from these comments and assure India that they don't reflect the country's policy.
Maldives government releases statement amid backlash
Amid the backlash, the Maldives government issued a statement on Sunday clarifying that it was aware of derogatory remarks on social media outlets against "foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals." "These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives," it said. "Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks," the government's statement added.
India takes up matter with government of Maldives
Meanwhile, India has also raised concerns over the "derogatory" remarks against PM Modi. Reportedly, the Indian High Commissioner in Male, Munu Mahawar, has taken up the matter with the government of the Maldives. On the other hand, several celebrities, including Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, John Abraham, and Shraddha Kapoor, took to social media, urging fellow Indians to plan a Lakshadweep trip with the common message "#ExploreIndianIslands."
President Muizzu will visit China on Monday
The controversy comes ahead of Maldivian President Muizzu's first visit to China for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Monday. He took oath as the eighth president of the Maldives in September. Muizzu, who backs deeper ties between the Maldives and China, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential election. Just days into his presidency, he requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel stationed in the island nation.
