Maldives govt suspends 3 ministers over derogatory remarks on PM Narendra Modi

Male: In a big development, Maldives government on Sunday suspended Minister Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha and Hassan Zihan over derogatory remarks made on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With pressure mounting on the island nation, the Mohamed Muizzu government finally relented. In the now-deleted post, Shiuna had called PM Modi a “clown” and a “puppet.” Another minister from the ruling party Zahid Rameez had also mocked PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep.

Nearly one-third of Maldives' economy is based on tourism. Soon after derogatory and racist remarks on PM Modi, many Indians took to X, expressing their anger and boycotting trips to the island nation. Many Indians said that they would rather visit ‘India’s own Maldives', meaning Lakshadweep. Speaking on the recent row, foreign expert, Robinder Sachdev pointed out at  the current Maldivian government's close proximity to China. The new government in Maldives has come through an anti-India-platform...In such a situation, PM Modi went to Lakshadweep and tweeted for its tourism promotion. Seeing this, the Maldives government and the anti-India lobby are feeling that India is harming Maldives by promoting Lakshadweep," said Sachdev.

Earlier, Former Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, taking to social media platform X, said, "Derogatory remarks made by 2 Deputy Ministers of the current #Maldives Government, and a  member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on social media is reprehensible and odious. I call on the Government to reprimand these officials. Public figures must maintain decorum. They must accept that they are no longer social media activists and that they are now entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the people and the country. India is a time tested friend and an unwavering ally. They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations."