New Delhi: The Maldivian government has taken swift action by suspending three ministers following their controversial social media posts against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The posts ignited a significant backlash, with some Indians reportedly canceling their planned vacations to the Maldives, a nation composed of over a hundred islands, many hosting luxurious resorts. In response to this, the Maldives government issued a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing the official stance of the Government of India regarding the insulting social media posts.
The statement declared, “Those who made such posts on social media while in government positions have now been suspended from their jobs.”
The suspended ministers include Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid.
The controversy arose when these ministers, along with other leaders in the Maldives, posted derogatory remarks against PM Modi in response to his social media updates during a visit to Lakshadweep. The posts, featuring the Prime Minister snorkeling, went viral, leading social media users to suggest Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.
In response to the criticism, the Maldivian government distanced itself from the remarks, stating that they were “personal and do not represent the views of the Government.” The government emphasized the importance of exercising freedom of expression responsibly and avoiding the spread of hatred and negativity that could hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners.
The statement came after widespread outrage within the Maldives, with prominent leaders condemning the offensive remarks against India, the country’s “closest neighbour.” Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed called the remarks “appalling” and urged President Mohamed Muizzu’s government to disassociate itself from such comments.
Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb strongly condemned the “derogatory and racist comments made by a group of Maldivian politicians.”
This decisive action by the Maldivian government serves as a reassurance to India amid diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The recent strain in ties followed President Mohamed Muizzu’s election pledge to reduce the presence of around 75 Indian military personnel in the country and revise the Maldives’s “India first” policy.
Unlike his predecessors, Muizzu chose Turkey as his first international destination after taking office. He later met PM Modi in the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of COP28. The two countries have established a core group to discuss the withdrawal of Indian troops, who are deployed to operate three gifted aircraft patrolling the maritime territory. The geography of both destinations—Lakshadweep and the Maldives—is quite similar, with low-lying islands, reefs, and pristine beaches, separated by the Eight Degree Channel.
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