This weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweets on X urging tourism in the Lakshadweep islands caused a social media battle between Maldivian politicians, government officials, and Indian social media users.
The Prime Minister praised “the stunning beauty of its islands” in a post about his recent visit to the Union Territory, adding, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”
In his formal statement, neither the Prime Minister nor any other Indian government official mentioned the Maldives or any other tourist-friendly island nation when promoting Lakshadweep. So, how did this generate social media discussion, and how does it relate to the Maldives government’s recent stance on India? We’ll explain. But first, if you are seeking cheap flight tickets from Toronto to Hyderabad, visit Flyopedia, the best online travel website.
Soon after PM Modi’s post, some prominent Maldivian social media users responded with abusive, racist, xenophobic, and insulting remarks directed against Indians in general and the Indian prime minister in particular. Mariyam Shiuna, Maldives’ Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts, was among them, writing, “What a clown. Mr. Narendra, Israel’s puppet, wearing a life jacket. #MaldivesVisit #SunnySideOfLife”. Shiuna also compared India to cow excrement in a now-deleted article.
Following that, a few local Maldivian news websites published sensational headlines in Dhivehi, stating that India had initiated an anti-tourism campaign in the Maldives. It didn’t take long for other Maldivian social media users to get on board and begin drawing parallels between the Maldives and the Lakshadweep islands, as well as insulting India and Indians.
Diplomats and high-ranking officials in President Mohamed Muizzu’s government, which assumed power in November last year, began repeating and disseminating offensive language and information while pushing others to do the same. Many others became embroiled in heated disputes and battles with anonymous Indian social media users.
In response to the Indian government’s efforts to promote tourism in Lakshadweep, Maldivian officials and supporters of the ruling coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) started using the hashtag ‘#VisitMaldives’ to promote photos of the country’s holiday resorts, beaches, and hotels.
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Three Maldivian ministers were suspended for making “derogatory” remarks about Modi. Hassan Zihan, deputy minister of transport and civil; Mariyam Shiuna, deputy minister of youth empowerment, information, and arts; and Malsha Sharif, deputy minister of youth empowerment, have all been suspended.
After opposition leaders slammed the top official’s “appalling language,” the country’s administration distanced itself from the social media controversy, saying these sentiments are “personal and do not represent the views of the government.”
The Maldivian foreign ministry said in a statement that it was aware of “derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals.” “These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives,” the statement read.
The Maldivian government indicated that it believes freedom of expression should be exercised democratically and responsibly, in ways that do not propagate intolerance and negativity, and that do not jeopardise the Maldives’ close connections with its international partners. It warned that appropriate government officials will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks.
Not everyone in the Maldives agreed with some government officials’ comments and the social media rage against India. Former President Mohamed Nasheed called the remarks “appalling” and demanded that Muizzu’s government separate itself from them.
“What heinous language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, which is critical to Maldives’ security and prosperity.” @MMuizzu The government must remove itself from these views and assure India that they do not reflect government policy, he wrote on X.
Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb strongly criticized the disrespectful and racist remarks directed against Prime Minister Modi by a handful of Maldivian leaders. Furthermore, he emphasized, “We built the Maldives tourism industry on the values of hospitality, tolerance, peace, and harmony.” Additionally, Adeeb highlighted, “We have successfully positioned Maldives as a leading luxury resort destination by strategic positioning and cooperation with global brands and investors, including those from India.”
He went on to say, “I strongly condemn any derogatory and racist remarks made by a group of Maldivian politicians towards His Excellency PM Modi @PMOIndia and beloved citizens of India.” He praised the Maldives administration for disavowing the sentiments made by these officials and underlining that they do not reflect the government’s perspective. Given the global economic issues and the vulnerability of the Maldives tourism industry and economy, we must retain a kind and humble demeanor while maintaining constructive relations with other nations.”
In a post on X, the Maldives National Party stated that it opposes racial and disrespectful remarks made by a government official against a foreign leader. “This is intolerable. “We urge the government to take appropriate action against those involved,” it continued.
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Also Read: Discover 7 Captivating Islands in India for a Picturesque Getaway
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