The Maldivian government has suspended three ministers for making offensive comments about India and its Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The ministers, Malsha Sharif, Maryam Shiuna, and Abdullah Mahjoom Majid, reacted to a social media post calling Modi a “clown”, “terrorist”, and “puppet of Israel”.
The day after these comments were made, India summoned the High Commissioner of Maldives for an explanation. A spokesperson for the Maldives’ foreign ministry clarified that the comments were personal and did not represent the government’s views.
Social Media Uproar
The derogatory comments sparked outrage on Indian social media, leading to trending hashtags like #BoycottMaldives and #ExploreIndianIslands. Some Indian tourists even announced the cancellation of their holiday plans to the Maldives, a popular destination known for its clean sandy beaches and mangrove islands.
In response to the controversy, the CEO of Indian ticket booking site EasyMyTrip suspended all bookings for the Maldives. Prominent Indians, including Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and several cricketers, expressed their dismay over the comments.
Official Response
“All officials who made such comments have been suspended with immediate effect,” a spokesman for President Mohamed Muizzou’s office told the news outlets. This decision comes amidst rising tensions between India and the Maldives, following President Muizzou’s request for about 75 Indian soldiers to leave the Maldives.
Despite calls for their dismissal, Maldivian media reported that the ministers were only suspended. The ministers have since deleted their controversial posts.
Former Presidents Condemn Comments
Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih strongly condemned the officials for using “hateful language against India”. He emphasized that India has always been a good friend to the Maldives and such comments should not be allowed to negatively affect the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
Another former president, Mohammad Nasheed, called the language of the comments “appalling” in a social media post.
Diplomatic Implications
The controversy arose ahead of President Muizzou’s five-day state visit to China, India’s rival. The visit to Beijing was seen as an insult to India from the top level. This incident is considered a diplomatic setback for India, which is trying to challenge China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.
When asked about Muizzoo’s visit to Beijing, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said, “It is up to them to decide where they go and how they proceed with their international relations.” He also mentioned that there is no new information about the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives.
(With inputs from BBC)
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