The Maldivian deputy minister for youth empowerment, information, and the arts, Mariyam Shiuna, ignited the uproar when she called Prime Minister Modi a “puppet of Israel” and a “clown” in a slew of since-deleted X postings.
When other Maldivian ministers joined her, the issue worsened because they said Indian beaches were not up to the Maldives’ standards of cleanliness.
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On Tuesday and Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi visited Lakshadweep, where he officially opened a number of projects totaling Rs. 1,150 crore in the areas of water resources, electricity, technology, education, and healthcare.
Posting pictures from his trip to the island on social media on Thursday, he praised Lakshadweep’s “stunning beauty” and “the incredible warmth of its people.”
Additionally, he advised adventurers and travellers to include the tropical archipelago on their itinerary, stating that “Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”
Maldivian ministers’ disparaging remarks on Modi and India
Malsha Sharif and Hassan Zihan, two of Shiuna’s fellow ministers and colleagues, are also said to have made similar disparaging remarks about India, Prime Minister Modi, and its Lakshadweep tourism promotion.
Maldivian MP Zahid Rameez of the Progressive Party of the Maldives said that India was “delusional” if it thought of challenging the Maldives.
In addition, he charged that New Delhi was “copying a small economy like Sri Lanka” in order to generate revenue.
A former president of the Maldives denounces “appalling” remarks
The former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, denounced the “appalling” insults made against Prime Minister Modi and India on Sunday in response to the severe outrage these messages caused on X (previously Twitter).
“What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives’ security and prosperity,” he said on Twitter.
In order to reassure India that these remarks did not represent the nation’s policies, Nasheed encouraged the current administration, headed by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to separate itself from them.
Maldives administration issues statement in the midst of dispute
Later on Sunday, the Maldives government issued a statement in which it declared that it had been aware of disparaging remarks made on social media platforms about “foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals.”
“These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives,” the press statement stated.
“Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks,” it continued.
India raises the matter with the Maldives administration
India, meanwhile, has expressed alarm over the “derogatory” remarks made about Prime Minister Modi.
The issue has been brought up with the Maldives administration by Munu Mahawar, the Indian High Commissioner in Male.
On social media, a number of Indian celebrities and internet users, such as Shraddha Kapoor, Salman Khan, John Abraham, Sachin Tendulkar, Akshay Kumar, and Salman Khan, encouraged Indians to arrange a trip to Lakshadweep.
A common hashtag among them was “#ExploreIndianIslands.”