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Posted by admin on 2024-01-10 |

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Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s posts on X promoting Lakshadweep as a tourist destination stirred controversy on social media when Maldivian users began commenting disparaging remarks. This situation opened a can of worms and caused a rift in diplomatic ties when Maldivian ministers joined in. Given that India is a significant market source for the Maldives' tourism industry, the unfolding diplomatic row has garnered attention.

·         The controversy erupted when Modi shared images on social platform X of himself snorkeling and walking along a beach in Lakshadweep, a southern Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala.

 

·         Although Modi didn't mention India's picturesque neighbor, the Maldives, in his post, his ebullient praise of the beautiful scenery in the lesser-known archipelago might have been perceived as a cajolery to attract vacationers there rather than to the Maldives.

 

·         In response, three Maldivian officials criticized Modi in his post, labeling him a "clown," "terrorist," and a "puppet of Israel."

Derogatory Response and Criticism

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After his post, Maldivian MP Zahid Rameez had remarked, “The initiative is commendable. However, attempting to compete with us is unrealistic. How can they match our level of service? How can their standards match our cleanliness? The persisting room odour will be their biggest drawback.”

In addition to Rameez’s comments, Minister Shiuna made derogatory statements about Modi, in a post that has now been deleted, labelling the Prime Minister as a “clown” and a “puppet.”

Swiftly responding to the comments made by the three officials, the Maldives government took action by suspending them. In an official statement, the Maldivian government acknowledged the "derogatory" remarks circulating on social media. However, they emphasized that these "opinions are personal" and do not reflect the government's official stance.

 

“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.

Meanwhile, the Maldivian envoy to India was summoned to the external affairs ministry on Monday. The Ministry expressed strong concerns regarding the disparaging social media posts.

In Male, the Maldivian government conveyed to Indian High Commissioner Munu Muhawar that the remarks against Modi do not represent its views.

Impact on Tourism

Indian tourists accounted for more than 209,000 trips to the Maldives in 2023, comprising 11% of its tourism market. Russia contributed a similar amount, with China closely behind, providing 187,118 visits, or 10% of the total.

The officials' remarks provoked frustration among some Indian holidaymakers, who shared screenshots on social media indicating the cancellation of their trips to the island chain under the hashtag #BoycottMaldives.

Renowned celebrities such as Salman Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, and Sachin Tendulkar also encouraged their fans to consider local destinations, with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep gaining traction, meaning "Let’s go to Lakshadweep," where Modi had visited.

 

Indian travel site EaseMyTrip announced the suspension of flight bookings to the Maldives. Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip, stated in a post on X, "In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings."

Former Ministers' Perspectives

Former Sports Minister of the Maldives, Ahmed Mahloof, has expressed worry about the ongoing row, emphasizing that the impact of "Indians boycotting the Maldives" could severely affect the country. "I am deeply worried about the escalating situation regarding the comments about our closest neighbour. Indians boycotting the Maldives would have a huge impact on our economy. It would be hard for us to recover from such a campaign. I call on the government to swiftly take serious action to solve the issue as soon as possible," he said.

Former Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi expressed her disappointment on Monday regarding the disparaging remarks, emphasizing India's role as the "911 call" for the Maldives, consistently coming to their rescue in times of need.

"It is the short-sightedness on the part of the present administration. We are a small country who are friends with all, but we cannot deny that we share borders with India. We share similar security concerns. India has always helped us. They have been helping us even in the defence sector with capacity building, providing us with equipment, and trying to make us more self-sufficient."

MATI Expressing Support for India

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has expressed support for India, condemning the derogatory comments made by some Deputy Ministers on social media platforms directed towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India, as stated in their official statement.

The statement reads, “India is one of our closest neighbors and allies. India has always been a first responder to various crises throughout our history, and we are immensely grateful for the close relationship that the Government and the people of India have maintained with us.” It also highlighted India's consistent and significant contribution to the Maldives' Tourism Industry, particularly aiding recovery efforts during COVID-19.

MATI expressed its sincere wish for an enduring close relationship between the two nations for generations to come, emphasizing the importance of refraining from actions or speech that may negatively impact their good relationship.