PM Modi Lakshadweep Visit: Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faizal has taken to Twitter to criticise the Maldives after a few of the island nation’s lawmakers made disparaging comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to the Union Territory last week.
Prime Minister Modi’s Lakshadweep Sojourn
On January 3, Prime Minister Modi shared some photos from his trip to Lakshadweep, where he was seen strolling and taking in the views of the immaculate beaches. He even went snorkelling. Additionally, he had promoted the island to Indians as a travel destination. Mohammad Faizal questioned why the Maldives should comment on what PM Modi said regarding the potential of tourism and other industries in Lakshadweep in an interview with news agency ANI.
Lakshadweep’s Emerging Potential
“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. 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?” he said.
Mariyam Shiuna’s Offensive Remarks
The incident started over the weekend when Mariyam Shiuna, the Maldives’ deputy minister for youth empowerment, referred to Prime Minister Modi as a “clown” and a “puppet” in posts that have since been removed from X. Following negative feedback on the microblogging platform, the tweets were removed. She made the same disparaging comments about Prime Minister Modi in several exchanges on social media.
Mockery of PM Modi’s Lakshadweep Visit
Other Maldivian officials, such as MP Zahid Rameez, made fun of PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep in addition to Shiuna when the photos went viral on social media and many people made comparisons to the Maldives. Zahid Rameez sent a tweet claiming that PM Modi’s decision “will boost” tourism in Lakshadweep while also being a “big setback” for the Maldives. But to think you can compete with us is absurd. How are they able to deliver the service that we do? How are they so spotless? The largest drawback will be the lingering odour in the rooms.”
Nasheed Denounces Offensive Language
Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, referred to Mariyam Shiuna’s disparaging comments on Prime Minister Modi as “appalling language” and concurred. “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.
Diplomatic Protest by India
India brought up the disparaging remarks made by Maldivian politicians against Prime Minister Modi with the administration of that country. The issue was brought up with the pro-China government of Mohammed Muizzu by the Indian High Commissioner in Male. More than a month after assuming the position of president, Muizzu demanded that Indian military personnel leave the Maldives.
Official Distancing and Claim of Personal Opinions
Following the scandal, the Maldives government suspended three of its ministers, Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, Mariyam Shiuna, and Malsha Shareef, and distanced itself from the remarks, claiming that they were “personal opinions” and did not reflect Male’s views. Authorities “will not hesitate” to take action against anyone who posted disparaging social media remarks about Prime Minister Modi following his visit to Lakshadweep, according to the Maldivian government. Following the outcry, a number of Indians said they were abandoning their plans to visit the Maldives, starting a movement known as “#BoycottMaldives.” Ahmed Mahloof, a former minister of the Maldives, stated on Sunday that the island nation’s economy would suffer greatly if Indians stopped visiting the Maldives.
Celebrities Weigh In
Many celebrities, including Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut, entered the debate about PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep amid the controversy surrounding the remarks made by Maldivian ministers. A large number of athletes also supported PM Modi’s efforts to promote Lakshadweep as a travel destination and denounced the Maldives for making fun of the PM.
Stress on Indo-Maldivian Friendship
Pro-Indian former president of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih denounced the use of “hateful language” by Maldivian government officials against India on social media. “India has always been a good friend to the Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries,” he said.
EaseMyTrip’s Solidarity Move
EaseMyTrip, an Indian online travel firm, declared early on Monday that it had stopped accepting reservations for flights to the Maldives as a result of the controversy, adding that the decision was made “in solidarity with our nation”. “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings. #TravelUpdate #SupportingNation,” founder Nishant Pitti tweeted.
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