Maldives officials
Three officials criticized Modi for attempting to lure tourists to India’s Lakshadweep island.
Because of its potential to quickly distribute information globally, social media is one of the key birthplaces of controversy, where one image may cause havoc across nations, especially if shared by a significant figure.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently shared photos of himself snorkeling and walking along a beach in Lakshadweep, a southern Indian island group, on X, formerly known as Twitter.
While praising the beauty of the Indian island, three Maldives officials derided Modi’s efforts to draw tourists to the lesser-known archipelago rather than the Maldives, according to CNN.
According to Reuters, officials replied to Modi’s remark by calling him a “clown,” a “terrorist,” and a “puppet of Israel,” despite the fact that he made no mention of the Maldives in his post.
According to a senior Maldives official, the island’s administration promptly distanced itself from their remarks, suspending the three officials – deputy ministers of the Ministry of Youth Employment, Information, and Arts.
The Maldives government said in a statement that it was aware of “derogatory” comments made on social media, but that the “opinions are personal” and do not represent its views.
The controversy erupts as Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who is well-known for his pro-China views, makes his first trip to China as president following his election, a five-day visit. Muizzu is anticipated to meet with Chinese authorities and make agreements to improve comerce, professional, and economical development while on a trip. Muizzu has promised to abandon his predecessor’s “India First” strategy.
The half-million-person Indian Ocean archipelago, however, cannot afford to enrage its nearest neighbor
The Maldives is primarily dependent on tourism, with the majority of its visitors coming from India. Over 209,000 visits to the island were made by Indian tourists in 2023, making up 11% of the island’s total tourism revenue.
Nevertheless, some Indian vacationers have been incensed by the officials’ remarks and have canceled their plans to visit the island chain, using the hashtag “#BoycottMaldives”.
The Maldives is dedicated to “fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with our partners,” according to Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, who termed the officials’ comments “unacceptable” in a post on X.
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