The ongoing dispute between India and the Maldives has captured widespread attention. It started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared images and videos of his visit to Lakshadweep and urged Indians to visit the islands. Following that, three Maldivian ministers, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, made mocking, disrespectful, and derogatory remarks on social media platforms regarding the Prime Minister’s Lakshadweep visit and about India.
Soon a row erupted on social media as the comments by the Maldivian ministers elicited major condemnation from Indians online, and in retaliation, many had also called for cancelling bookings to the island nation. There are also reports that many hotel bookings, as well as flight tickets, have been cancelled. Indians make up a major chunk of incoming foreign tourists to the Maldives.
A statement issued by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said that they were aware of the derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. “The Government of the Maldives is aware of the 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 Maldives government,” the statement said. “Moreover, the relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks,” it added.
It also stated that the government believes that freedom of expression should be exercised democratically and responsibly and in ways that do not spread hatred and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. Following the distancing, the Maldives government has now suspended all the three ministers responsible for the comments.
The backlash over the controversial remarks by ministers of Maldives is evident as online travel firm, EaseMyTrip has suspended all bookings to the Maldives. Prashant Pitti, Co-founder, EaseMyTrip, took to social media (formally Twitter) to say that his online platform will now not accept bookings for the Maldives. He wrote, ‘Our company is entirely homegrown and made in India. Amid the row over Maldives MP’s post on PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, we have decided that we will not accept any bookings for Maldives. We want Ayodhya and Lakshadweep to turn out as international destinations.”
