The Madives Government has suspended three deputy ministers for making derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting Lakshadweep islands on social media. PM Modi had on 4th January shared his experience in the Union Territory saying, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”
The suspended ministers are Malsha Shareef, Abdulla Mahzoon Maajid and Mariyam Shiuna, who is the deputy member of youth empowerment, information, and art. Earlier on 7th January 2024, Shiuna had in her post on X called PM Israel’s “puppet” and “clown”. She deleted the post shortly but not fast enough to avoid the controversy.
The Indian High Commission in Maldives had reportedly taken up the issue with the government and by Sunday evening, the Maldivian Government issued a statement distancing itself from the remarks made by its ministers. The statement said that such expressions represent personal opinions and not the views of the government.
“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 international partners,” it added. “The relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks,” the government said.
The remarks also sparked strong reactions on social media from Indian citizen who either announced cancelling their trip to the Maldives or promoted India’s Lakshadweep islands. India makes up for the highest number of arrivals in the island nation with 209,198 tourists holidaying in the Maldives last year alone.
The controversy erupted just when Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu embarked on his trip to China following an invitation from the President of China, Xi Jinping.
According to the statement from the Presidents’ Office, during the visit, the Maldives and China will hold official talks and sign key agreements to enhance trade, professional development, and socioeconomic cooperation. This visit will also pave the way for collaborations in technology and other areas between the two countries, it said.
The Maldivian President is also scheduled to attend the Invest Maldives Forum in Fuzhou, China and meet with senior Chinese business leaders to explore avenues for strengthening socioeconomic relations between the Maldives and China.
