Male [Maldives]

In a damage control move after a heavy backlash by Indians on the derogatory remarks made by Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India on social media, Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer said that these remarks against foreign leaders are "unacceptable" and do not reflect the official position of the Maldives government.

He stated that the Maldives remains committed to fostering a "positive and constructive dialogue" with all its partners, particularly its neighbours.

In a post shared on X, Moosa Zameer stated, "The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of #Maldives. We remain committed to fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with all our partners, especially our neighbours, based on mutual respect and understanding."

The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of #Maldives.

We remain committed to fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with all our partners, especially our neighbours,…

— Moosa Zameer (@MoosaZameer) January 7, 2024

A massive uproar erupted after a Maldivian deputy minister, along with two other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging and unsavoury references to PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep.

On January 2, PM Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and shared several pictures, including an 'exhilarating experience' of him trying his hand at snorkeling.

In response, the Indian public showed its power with massive cancellations of hotel bookings in the country and with celebrities showing support for Indian locales to the Maldivian shores.

The travel booking agency Ease My Trip suspended booking for the Island nation in solidarity with nationwide condemnation of the country’s top officials’ hate messages against India and PM Modi.

There are reports in Maldivian media that the three ministers who posted uncharitable remarks following Modi’s simple post about the beauty of an Indian territory have been suspended.

Tourism is the mainstay of Archepelago’s economy. Reports suggest that China has been buying resorts and other tourism-related properties in Maldives and has started influencing the government’s policies on it.

Indians are the second major group of tourists coming to Maldives while the Chinese lead the pack. If the #boycott Maldives trend on X continues to show an impact on the ground Maldives with a government that has anti-India as part of its election promise is headed for trouble.

Many travel enthusiasts from across the world are also joining in to support #Boycott maldives which is trending on X:

Lakshadweep is more more beautiful, clean than the Maldives. #Lakshadweep - W 🔥🔥🔥#Maldives - L #BoycottMaldives#ExploreIndianIslands#LakshadweepTourism#LakshadweepIsParadise#Maldivians #MaldivesOut pic.twitter.com/czvpZCWwrX

— Soham Khade (@Soham0510) January 8, 2024

In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches, the pristine blue skies, and the ocean and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list."

In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi over his visit to the Indian island cluster. Her post even featured images of PM Modi from his visit to Lakshadweep.

A section of India's film fraternity, too, came out in support of PM Modi and strongly criticized the derogatory remarks by Maldivian leaders against the country and its leader. They also voiced support for PM Modi's call for promoting beach tourism in Lakshadweep. Actor john Abraham, who has a klimited presence on social media posted this:

With the amazing Indian hospitality, the idea of “Atithi Devo Bhava” and a vast marine life to explore. Lakshwadeep is the place to go.#exploreindianislands pic.twitter.com/CA1d9r0QZ5

— John Abraham (@TheJohnAbraham) January 7, 2024

On Sunday, former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih condemned the use of 'hateful language' against India by government officials on social media, saying New Delhi has always been a good friend to the island nation.

Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Solih posted, "I condemn the use of hateful language against India by Maldivian government officials on social media."

He stressed that "India has always been a good friend to the Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries."

Meanwhile, former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid said the objectionable remarks against the former and fellow Indian natives on social media are 'reprehensible' and 'odious'.

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Calling on the Maldivian government to identify the officials responsible and reprimand them, the former Foreign minister on his official X handle posted, "Derogatory remarks made by two Deputy Ministers of the current Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India in social media is reprehensible and odious."