Immaturity of new Maldivian dispensation comes to fore. The unwarranted row has damaged Maldives reputation as a tourism haven. A party that came to power simply pushing anti-India agenda had to be exposed like this.
"One thing is sure Lakshadweep is going to be a new destination which is still to be explored. PM Modi came to Lakshadweep and stayed for a day and he said something which the people of Lakshadweep always wanted to have from a tourist perspective," Mohammad Faizal, MP from Lakshadweep, hits out at the Maldives and the politicians there.
"I always wanted this government to have a policy for tourism because that will generate employment opportunities for youngsters. Why should the Maldives have a problem with that?" the NCP lawmaker said.
“The Government (of Maldives) believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners," the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs was forced to issue a statement to do the damage control.
“The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives,” the foreign affairs ministry said, adding that it would “not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks”.
It is being argued that some ministers and top functionaries in the Muizzu government lack experience and an understanding of diplomacy and their roles.
The fact of the matter is while politicians or party members have the freedom to pursue volatile rhetoric while campaigning before elections, it is much harder to do so as the leader of a nation or as a government official or minister, an analyst interviewed for this report said, requesting anonymity.
( Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar also shared a video of himself playing cricket on a beach and wrote, "India is blessed with beautiful coastlines and pristine islands. With our “Atithi Devo Bhava” philosophy, we have so much to explore, so many memories waiting to be created.")
It's a diplomatic embarrassment for new dispensation in Maldives.
The national leadership on Sunday had to suspend three of its ministers after they shared derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
The decision to suspend ministers Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid from their posts comes after India raised the matter with the island nation today.
Notably, Shiuna, had called PM Modi a "clown" and "puppet" in now-deleted posts on X after the Prime Minister posted pictures of his visit to Lakshadweep and pitched the island as a tourist destination for Indians. The tweets were taken down after backlash on the micro-blogging site.
#BoycottMaldives began trending on social media after Maldivian minister Mariyam Shiuna made derogatory remarks against Modi over his pitch for Lakshadweep as a tourist destination.
India raised with the Maldives government the derogatory remarks against the Prime Minister (Modi0 by a Maldivian minister (Ms Shiuna) following a massive row that erupted after Maldivian politicians mocked the Prime Minister's Lakshadweep visit.
Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment in the Maldives, had called PM Modi a "clown" and "puppet" in now-deleted posts on X after the Prime Minister posted pictures of his visit to Lakshadweep and pitched the island as a tourist destination for Indians.
The tweets were deleted after backlash on the micro-blogging site.
The Indian High Commissioner has taken up the matter with the newly installed Mohamed Muizzu-led government.
Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed too condemned Mariyam Shiuna's derogatory remarks against PM Modi, calling it "appalling language".
"What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for the Maldives’ security and prosperity. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect government policy (sic)," Nasheed wrote on X.
Despite the backlash, Mariyam Shiuna repeated derogatory remarks against PM Modi in multiple social media interactions. Apart from Shiuna, other Maldives officials, including MP Zahid Rameez, mocked Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep after the photographs gained wide attention on social media, with many comparing it to the Maldives.
The Maldives government, in a statement on Sunday, rejected the derogatory remarks made by Mariyam Shiuna against PM Modi, stating that they do not represent the views of the Maldivian government.
"The Government of the Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of the Maldives," the statement read. "The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners," it said.
Amid the row celebrities such as Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, John Abraham, and Shraddha Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut joined the discussion over Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Some even directly mentioned PM's visit and the Maldivian response.
Akshay Kumar called it an "unprovoked hate".
"Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists.
We are good to our neighbours but, Why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate?," wrote Akshay, who personally has good rapport with the Prime Minister.
"I've visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism."
Salman Khan said, "It is so cool to see our Hon PM Narendrabhai Modi at the beautiful, clean and stunning beaches of Lakshadweep, and the best part is that yeh hamare India mein hain".
Kangana Ranaut also responded saying, "For most people tourism is not just filthy luxury, it is rather exploration of nature, alignment with the source and above all experiencing and enjoying the raw, untouched beauty of virgin beaches. Shame on you for being so crass and vulgarly racist".
"Smell?? Permanent smell?? What!!! Suffering from massive Muslim phobia, even though belonging to the same community. Lakshadweep consists of 98 percent of Muslim population, this prominent public figure from Maldives calling them smelly and lowly is rather racist and uninformed," she wrote on X.
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