Amidst significant public backlash, the
Maldives government has taken swift action by suspending two of its ministers, Mariyam
Shiuna and Hassan Zihan, for making derogatory remarks against Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. Mariyam, serving as the Deputy Minister of Youth
Empowerment, had referred to PM Modi as a 'clown' and a 'puppet' following his
visit to the Indian islands of Lakshadweep.
The criticism escalated when Rameez,
another minister, mocked Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, leading to
widespread attention on social media, where comparisons were drawn between the
Maldives and India. These disparaging comments triggered a massive reaction
from the Indian public, resulting in calls for a boycott of the island nation.
Expressing their dissatisfaction, many
individuals took to social media platforms to announce the cancellation of
their planned trips to the Maldives. Dr. Falak, for instance, shared her
disappointment, revealing that she had been in the final stages of confirming a
deal with her travel agent for a birthday trip on February 2nd. However, upon
encountering the deputy minister's tweet, she promptly canceled her travel
plans in solidarity with the #boycottmaldives movement.
In response to the controversy, the Indian High Commissioner addressed the matter of derogatory remarks with the Maldivian government. The Maldivian authorities, in a statement, acknowledged the existence of these derogatory opinions, emphasizing that they are personal views and do not reflect the official stance of the government.
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