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<p>On January 10, President Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives and Chinese President Xi Jinping held the much-awaited meeting in Beijing and witnessed the signing of 20 bilateral agreements. This was a clear indication of their shared desire to deepen the bilateral relationship, as was attempted during the presidency of Abdulla Yameen (2013–18).</p>

<h2><strong>The context</strong></h2>

<p>A tiny nation of half a million people, Maldives has drawn enormous attention from the media, diplomats and informed public since Muizzu’s election last September. As he prepared to embark on his first visit to China, Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer received a call from Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterating the US commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Maldives, “a key partner in a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”</p>

<p>This was followed by a dramatic turn of events signifying new strains in Maldives’ relations with India. In a reaction to the derogatory language used by three junior ministers of Maldives against India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, Bollywood and sports celebrities unleashed a firestorm on social media with the trending hashtag “Boycott Maldives.”</p>

<p>Just before he departed for China, Muizzu suspended the offending ministers, bowing to internal political pressure and mollifying critics in India. Then, the focus shifted to his extensive five-day tour of China which has produced significant gains.</p>

<p>The totality of these developments reflects an intensification of India-China rivalry in South Asia as well as the larger strategic contestation between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific region. Each major player has an impressive arsenal of means to assist Maldives in attaining its sustainable development goals as well as complicating its life. The central question is: Can Maldives, a small and politically fractured nation with immense strategic significance, navigate its path through the turbulence that lies ahead?</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-diplomatic-row-eu-report-states-maldives-ruling-coalition-deployed-anti-india-sentiment-to-win-election-678880"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Amid diplomatic row, EU report states Maldives ruling coalition deployed anti-India sentiment to win election</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Maldives-India ties</strong></h2>

<p>From the long presidency of Abdul Gayoom (1978–2008) to the tenure of the last president, Ibrahim Solih, India and Maldives enjoyed close and cooperative relations. The only exception was the tenure of Abdulla Yameen. In terms of political consultation and coordination, development and economic cooperation, emergency assistance, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people relations, the two countries worked closely, unhindered by any bilateral dispute.</p>

<p>As the head of the division handling relations with the Maldives in the Ministry of External Affairs in the early 1990s, I vividly recall how India had to send everything from sand, steel and cement to X-ray machines and trained personnel to establish the country’s first major public medical facility – the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Inaugurated in April 1995, it earned tremendous goodwill for India as a trusted friend.</p>

<p>Over the years, Indian assistance has covered projects big and small, including high-impact community development facilities and the Greater Male Connectivity Project worth $500 million (which is currently underway). Bilateral trade has risen from $156 million in 2013 to $501 million in 2022.</p>

<p>Last year, India became the country sending the highest number of tourists to Maldives. A regular programme of cooperation including capacity building and disaster management assistance exists. The presence of 75 Indian military personnel, who man and operate an aircraft and two helicopters for medical emergencies, was deliberately misconstrued for electoral purposes last year. This shaped the ‘India Out’ campaign, masterminded by political elements close to former president Yameen, which culminated in Muizzu’s victory.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-can-indias-political-heat-burn-maldives-govt-tourism-body-sends-apology-letter-678382"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Can India's political heat burn Maldives' govt? | Tourism body sends apology letter</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" data-gtm-yt-inspected-6="true" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-can-indias-political-heat-burn-maldives-govt-tourism-body-sends-apology-letter-678382/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Since its formation last November, the Muizzu government has taken several steps causing concern in New Delhi. At the outset, it requested India to withdraw all its defence personnel from Maldives. Then, it refused to renew an MoU in hydrographic surveys concluded by the previous government. It also failed to participate in the meeting of national security advisers of the Colombo Security Conclave, held in Mauritius in December 2023.</p>

<p>Breaking from tradition, the president chose to visit first Turkey and then China, as dates for a visit to India could not be worked out. However, he had a brief meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dubai, UAE, on the sidelines of COP28 when the two leaders agreed to set up a joint task force to devise how bilateral cooperation may be expanded. Before this could be translated into action, the controversy over unjustified criticism by Maldives’ junior ministers erupted.</p>

<p>A few days earlier, President Muizzu stated, in his interview with a major national daily, that his government was ‘pro-Maldives’ and not ‘anti’ any country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We respect and trust India,” he said but asserted that if Indian troops were not withdrawn from Maldives disregarding the people’s will, “the future of democracy in the country will be in peril.”</p>

<h2><strong>The West and Maldives</strong></h2>

<p>As a former British protectorate and a member of the Commonwealth, Maldives maintains friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the UK. However, the US is more aware and active in ensuring that Maldives does not come under the excessive influence of China, considering the ongoing strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. During Blinken’s telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Zameer, the two sides discussed “the importance of defence cooperation, economic growth, combating the climate crisis, and democratic governance.”</p>

<p>At the same time, Washington treats India as the main player in managing Maldives. The interests of the US and India converge to keep Maldives a functioning democracy, with ample agency of its own. Yet when it comes to South Asia as a region, the US also shows marked divergences with India, as evident in the case of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The degree of this divergence over Maldives is unclear at present.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-how-pm-modis-lakshadweep-visit-sparked-diplomatic-tensions-between-india-and-maldives-678432"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep?</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>China-Maldives equation</strong></h2>

<p>The key highlights of President Muizzu’s visit to China are listed below:</p>

<ul>
	<li>The two governments finalised an Action Plan for building a “Comprehensive, Strategic, Cooperative Partnership” for 2024–28.<br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Of the total 20 agreements signed, the list of domains covered includes digital economy, green energy, Blue Economy, human resource development, tourism, economic development policy, investment cooperation, Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperation between official media networks.<br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>These plans may be backed by the considerable financial largesse of China. An agreement on ‘Grant Assistance’ was also signed but the quantum of financial assistance was not disclosed.<br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>In his interactions with the Chinese side, President Muizzu urged it to intensify the flow of Chinese tourists to Maldives and air connectivity between the two countries. China should regain its (pre-Covid) No. 1 position in Maldives’ tourism market, he suggested.<br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The Chinese media has portrayed the Muizzu visit as “a pivotal moment” in China-Maldives relations.</li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Policy choices</strong></h2>

<p>With a successful and substantive visit to China, President Muizzu has made his choice clear: China may now be the principal partner of Maldives. Other partners may be expected to accept this overarching reality and adjust accordingly.</p>

<p>India will need to assess its options carefully. Will its decision be moulded by the sentimentalism of “Boycott Maldives” expressed in ‘the digital public square’, or by professional advice that prefers pragmatism, patience and policy calibration?</p>

<p>As to the China-US feud in the Indo-Pacific, this round has gone to the former. The latter, preoccupied elsewhere, has suffered a setback.</p>

<p>In the coming weeks, the story will unfold further. Therefore, watch this space.</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em></p>


On January 10, President Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives and Chinese President Xi Jinping held the much-awaited meeting in Beijing and witnessed the signing of 20 bilateral agreements.

On January 10, President Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives and Chinese President Xi Jinping held the much-awaited meeting in Beijing and witnessed the signing of 20 bilateral agreements. This was a clear indication of their shared desire to deepen the bilateral relationship, as was attempted during the presidency of Abdulla Yameen (2013–18). The context A tiny nation of half a million people, Maldives has drawn enormous attention from the media, diplomats and informed public since Muizzu’s election last September. As he prepared to embark on his first visit to China, Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer received a call from Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterating the US commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Maldives, “a key partner in a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.” This was followed by a dramatic turn of events signifying new strains in Maldives’ relations with India. In a reaction to the derogatory language used by three junior ministers of Maldives against India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, Bollywood and sports celebrities unleashed a firestorm on social media with the trending hashtag “Boycott Maldives.” Just before he departed for China, Muizzu suspended the offending ministers, bowing to internal political pressure and mollifying critics in India. Then, the focus shifted to his extensive five-day tour of China which has produced significant gains. The totality of these developments reflects an intensification of India-China rivalry in South Asia as well as the larger strategic contestation between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific region. Each major player has an impressive arsenal of means to assist Maldives in attaining its sustainable development goals as well as complicating its life. The central question is: Can Maldives, a small and politically fractured nation with immense strategic significance, navigate its path through the turbulence that lies ahead? Also read | Amid diplomatic row, EU report states Maldives ruling coalition deployed anti-India sentiment to win election Maldives-India ties From the long presidency of Abdul Gayoom (1978–2008) to the tenure of the last president, Ibrahim Solih, India and Maldives enjoyed close and cooperative relations. The only exception was the tenure of Abdulla Yameen. In terms of political consultation and coordination, development and economic cooperation, emergency assistance, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people relations, the two countries worked closely, unhindered by any bilateral dispute. As the head of the division handling relations with the Maldives in the Ministry of External Affairs in the early 1990s, I vividly recall how India had to send everything from sand, steel and cement to X-ray machines and trained personnel to establish the country’s first major public medical facility – the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Inaugurated in April 1995, it earned tremendous goodwill for India as a trusted friend. Over the years, Indian assistance has covered projects big and small, including high-impact community development facilities and the Greater Male Connectivity Project worth $500 million (which is currently underway). Bilateral trade has risen from $156 million in 2013 to $501 million in 2022. Last year, India became the country sending the highest number of tourists to Maldives. A regular programme of cooperation including capacity building and disaster management assistance exists. The presence of 75 Indian military personnel, who man and operate an aircraft and two helicopters for medical emergencies, was deliberately misconstrued for electoral purposes last year. This shaped the ‘India Out’ campaign, masterminded by political elements close to former president Yameen, which culminated in Muizzu’s victory. Watch | Gravitas: Can India's political heat burn Maldives' govt? | Tourism body sends apology letter Since its formation last November, the Muizzu government has taken several steps causing concern in New Delhi. At the outset, it requested India to withdraw all its defence personnel from Maldives. Then, it refused to renew an MoU in hydrographic surveys concluded by the previous government. It also failed to participate in the meeting of national security advisers of the Colombo Security Conclave, held in Mauritius in December 2023. Breaking from tradition, the president chose to visit first Turkey and then China, as dates for a visit to India could not be worked out. However, he had a brief meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dubai, UAE, on the sidelines of COP28 when the two leaders agreed to set up a joint task force to devise how bilateral cooperation may be expanded. Before this could be translated into action, the controversy over unjustified criticism by Maldives’ junior ministers erupted. A few days earlier, President Muizzu stated, in his interview with a major national daily, that his government was ‘pro-Maldives’ and not ‘anti’ any country. “We respect and trust India,” he said but asserted that if Indian troops were not withdrawn from Maldives disregarding the people’s will, “the future of democracy in the country will be in peril.” The West and Maldives As a former British protectorate and a member of the Commonwealth, Maldives maintains friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the UK. However, the US is more aware and active in ensuring that Maldives does not come under the excessive influence of China, considering the ongoing strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. During Blinken’s telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Zameer, the two sides discussed “the importance of defence cooperation, economic growth, combating the climate crisis, and democratic governance.” At the same time, Washington treats India as the main player in managing Maldives. The interests of the US and India converge to keep Maldives a functioning democracy, with ample agency of its own. Yet when it comes to South Asia as a region, the US also shows marked divergences with India, as evident in the case of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The degree of this divergence over Maldives is unclear at present. Also read | Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep? China-Maldives equation The key highlights of President Muizzu’s visit to China are listed below: The two governments finalised an Action Plan for building a “Comprehensive, Strategic, Cooperative Partnership” for 2024–28. Of the total 20 agreements signed, the list of domains covered includes digital economy, green energy, Blue Economy, human resource development, tourism, economic development policy, investment cooperation, Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperation between official media networks. These plans may be backed by the considerable financial largesse of China. An agreement on ‘Grant Assistance’ was also signed but the quantum of financial assistance was not disclosed. In his interactions with the Chinese side, President Muizzu urged it to intensify the flow of Chinese tourists to Maldives and air connectivity between the two countries. China should regain its (pre-Covid) No. 1 position in Maldives’ tourism market, he suggested. The Chinese media has portrayed the Muizzu visit as “a pivotal moment” in China-Maldives relations. Policy choices With a successful and substantive visit to China, President Muizzu has made his choice clear: China may now be the principal partner of Maldives. Other partners may be expected to accept this overarching reality and adjust accordingly. India will need to assess its options carefully. Will its decision be moulded by the sentimentalism of “Boycott Maldives” expressed in ‘the digital public square’, or by professional advice that prefers pragmatism, patience and policy calibration? As to the China-US feud in the Indo-Pacific, this round has gone to the former. The latter, preoccupied elsewhere, has suffered a setback. In the coming weeks, the story will unfold further. Therefore, watch this space. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Maldives' pivot to China - A new turn in Indo-Pacific geopolitics

<p>India and the Maldives share long-standing diplomatic relations. New Delhi has consistently offered support to Male whenever the archipelago nation is hit with any crisis, be it humanitarian or security-related. The most&nbsp;recent example of assistance was witnessed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where India provided valuable aid to Maldives in the form of vaccines.</p>

<p>New Delhi has a history of aiding the Maldives, an island nation with a population of nearly 500,000, including during the devastating 2004 tsunami.</p>

<p>But perhaps the most exceptional illustration of India's commitment to its neighbour was when Male was hit with a security crisis during the 1988 coup.</p>

<p>On November 3, 1988, a group of Maldivian rebels led by Abdullah Luthufi, and Sri Lanka's People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) attempted to overthrow the government of then-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the small island nation in the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>President Gayoom's government quickly sought assistance from the international community, including then-Soviet Union, Singapore, Pakistan, US, UK and India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the one country that stood the test of&nbsp;times for Maldives was India.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-govt-must-make-stronger-statement-to-repair-ties-with-india-says-maldives-oppo-leader-amid-row-678687">‘Maldives govt must make stronger statement to repair ties with India,’ says Maldives oppo leader amid row</a></p>

<p>New Delhi, within 16 hours of the SOS received from President Gayoom for assistance, rescued the leader.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, and any political turmoil in the region could have broader implications.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The situation was tense.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response to the request for assistance, India swiftly launched 'Operation Cactus' on the night of November 3, 1988, when the coup was attempted.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How India went in&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking with WION, Lieutenant General (Retd) Vinod Bhatia, who was then brigade major of the 50 Independent Parachute Brigade,&nbsp;gave a first-hand account of the coup attempt by rebels to overthrow the Male government and how India thwarted it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gayoom, by that time, had already faced two coup attempts: in 1980 and 1983.&nbsp;</p>

<p>General Bhatia told WION, "They staged the coup when the President of Maldives was to come to India on November 3, 1988. On November 3 morning, Male was taken over and the headquarters were surrounded. TV stations and radio stations were taken over, just like it happens during any coup."</p>

<p>On that day, 80 PLOTE fighters and some locals, armed with heavy weaponry, seized control of Male, targeting key infrastructure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response, a crisis committee in Delhi led by then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi decided to help the Male government.</p>

<p>The 50th Independent Parachute Brigade was activated in Agra, and Air Force and Parachute Brigade units were ready for deployment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-lakshadweep-to-get-new-airport-as-part-of-overhaul-to-boost-tourism-678627">India’s Lakshadweep to get new airport as part of overhaul to boost tourism</a></p>

<p>Two Ilyushin IL-76s landed in Maldives at 9:30 pm, carrying Indian soldiers and then-High Commissioner to Maldives Arun Banerjee.</p>

<p>"There were 80-odd people involved in the coup. The moment they saw us landing there, they just vanished. They were firing, they realised the game was over," General Bhatia told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Eventually, paratroopers secured the airport. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"We went in at the invitation of the president. Our task was to rescue the Maldivian president. We got the first intimation around 10-10:30 am and the para brigade launched the operation, and we could rescue the president by 2 am in the morning.... within 16 hours. Then we were told to restore normalcy in Maldives."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, the rebels "hijacked a ship called MV Progress Light. They took that ship away. Some of them took boats and went away and we chased them. By 8 November, we got everyone back."</p>

<p>The Navy, under commander of the brigade Farouk Bulsara, ordered to open fire which damaged the fleeing ship. Indian Navy ships INS Betwa and INS Godavari intercepted it, following which the rebels surrendered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Every military operation is inherently dangerous. There was a cold start and this was a totally blind one. We had very little intelligence but that's what we are trained and meant to do," General Bhatia said, adding that after the operation, India's intervention was highly appreciated.</p>

<p>The coup led to the deaths of 19 people, while 68 Sri Lankan fighters and seven Maldivians were arrested.</p>

<p>Four, including Luthufee, received initially a death sentence, later commuted at PM Rajiv Gandhi's request.</p>

<h2><strong>A pivotal moment in India's diplomatic history</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Indian forces, including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, conducted the successful military intervention to quell the rebellion and reinstate the legitimate government in the Maldives.</p>

<p>The swift and decisive action by India is often hailed as a successful example of regional cooperation and intervention to maintain stability in the South Asian region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The operation showed India's ability to respond to a crisis in its immediate neighbourhood and demonstrated its commitment to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring nations.</p>

<p>The Maldives coup and India's intervention in 1988 further strengthened diplomatic ties between the two countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/major-boost-to-india-uk-security-ties-india-uk-sign-deal-on-cadet-exchange-program-678700">Major boost to India-UK security ties: India, UK sign deal on Cadet Exchange Program</a></strong></p>

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<p>"India is the only nation where whenever we have helped out our neighbours, we have never made a base, we have always come out. Whether it is Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal. So we are one nation where we are friendly to our neighbours."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Even in 1971 war, we vacated.. we came back to our country. On 17 Nov, we were out of Maldives," General Bhatia added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


India and the Maldives share long-standing diplomatic relations. New Delhi has consistently offered support to Male whenever the archipelago nation is hit with any crisis, be it humanitarian or security-related.

India and the Maldives share long-standing diplomatic relations. New Delhi has consistently offered support to Male whenever the archipelago nation is hit with any crisis, be it humanitarian or security-related. The most recent example of assistance was witnessed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where India provided valuable aid to Maldives in the form of vaccines. New Delhi has a history of aiding the Maldives, an island nation with a population of nearly 500,000, including during the devastating 2004 tsunami. But perhaps the most exceptional illustration of India's commitment to its neighbour was when Male was hit with a security crisis during the 1988 coup. On November 3, 1988, a group of Maldivian rebels led by Abdullah Luthufi, and Sri Lanka's People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) attempted to overthrow the government of then-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the small island nation in the Indian Ocean. President Gayoom's government quickly sought assistance from the international community, including then-Soviet Union, Singapore, Pakistan, US, UK and India. But the one country that stood the test of times for Maldives was India. Also Read | ‘Maldives govt must make stronger statement to repair ties with India,’ says Maldives oppo leader amid row New Delhi, within 16 hours of the SOS received from President Gayoom for assistance, rescued the leader. Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, and any political turmoil in the region could have broader implications. The situation was tense. In response to the request for assistance, India swiftly launched 'Operation Cactus' on the night of November 3, 1988, when the coup was attempted. How India went in Speaking with WION, Lieutenant General (Retd) Vinod Bhatia, who was then brigade major of the 50 Independent Parachute Brigade, gave a first-hand account of the coup attempt by rebels to overthrow the Male government and how India thwarted it. Gayoom, by that time, had already faced two coup attempts: in 1980 and 1983. General Bhatia told WION, "They staged the coup when the President of Maldives was to come to India on November 3, 1988. On November 3 morning, Male was taken over and the headquarters were surrounded. TV stations and radio stations were taken over, just like it happens during any coup." On that day, 80 PLOTE fighters and some locals, armed with heavy weaponry, seized control of Male, targeting key infrastructure. In response, a crisis committee in Delhi led by then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi decided to help the Male government. The 50th Independent Parachute Brigade was activated in Agra, and Air Force and Parachute Brigade units were ready for deployment. Also Read | India’s Lakshadweep to get new airport as part of overhaul to boost tourism Two Ilyushin IL-76s landed in Maldives at 9:30 pm, carrying Indian soldiers and then-High Commissioner to Maldives Arun Banerjee. "There were 80-odd people involved in the coup. The moment they saw us landing there, they just vanished. They were firing, they realised the game was over," General Bhatia told WION. Eventually, paratroopers secured the airport. "We went in at the invitation of the president. Our task was to rescue the Maldivian president. We got the first intimation around 10-10:30 am and the para brigade launched the operation, and we could rescue the president by 2 am in the morning.... within 16 hours. Then we were told to restore normalcy in Maldives." Later, the rebels "hijacked a ship called MV Progress Light. They took that ship away. Some of them took boats and went away and we chased them. By 8 November, we got everyone back." The Navy, under commander of the brigade Farouk Bulsara, ordered to open fire which damaged the fleeing ship. Indian Navy ships INS Betwa and INS Godavari intercepted it, following which the rebels surrendered. "Every military operation is inherently dangerous. There was a cold start and this was a totally blind one. We had very little intelligence but that's what we are trained and meant to do," General Bhatia said, adding that after the operation, India's intervention was highly appreciated. The coup led to the deaths of 19 people, while 68 Sri Lankan fighters and seven Maldivians were arrested. Four, including Luthufee, received initially a death sentence, later commuted at PM Rajiv Gandhi's request. A pivotal moment in India's diplomatic history Indian forces, including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, conducted the successful military intervention to quell the rebellion and reinstate the legitimate government in the Maldives. The swift and decisive action by India is often hailed as a successful example of regional cooperation and intervention to maintain stability in the South Asian region. The operation showed India's ability to respond to a crisis in its immediate neighbourhood and demonstrated its commitment to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring nations. The Maldives coup and India's intervention in 1988 further strengthened diplomatic ties between the two countries. Watch | Major boost to India-UK security ties: India, UK sign deal on Cadet Exchange Program × "India is the only nation where whenever we have helped out our neighbours, we have never made a base, we have always come out. Whether it is Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal. So we are one nation where we are friendly to our neighbours." "Even in 1971 war, we vacated.. we came back to our country. On 17 Nov, we were out of Maldives," General Bhatia added.

How India thwarted 1988 coup attempt in Maldives: Indian army veteran Vinod Bhatia speaks to WION

<p lang="en-US">“I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” these were some of the words posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Instagram along with the image of him enjoying the weather on the beach in the country's union territory of Lakshadweep on January 5.<br />
<br />
What appeared to the world just some images from an official visit made by the Indian prime minister soon led to a controversy and unexpected diplomatic row between India and Maldives.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How did the social media war begin?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The social media war started after PM Modi shared images of walking along a beach and snorkelling in Lakshadweep, which is a southern Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea, near the coast of Kerala.<br />
<br />
No mention or references to Maldives or any other island nation which is popular among tourists was made in the post, however, still, the archipelago's beautiful scenery appeared to offend the Maldivian politicians and government officials in some way and started a war on social media with Indian users.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… <a href="https://t.co/tYW5Cvgi8N">pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1742831481775632552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>One apparent reason can also be that Maldives saw the posts as a threat to its own tourism, to which Indians are a massive contributor.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-jittery-as-lakshadweep-remains-top-trend-in-india-for-second-consecutive-day-677193">Maldives jittery as ‘Lakshadweep’ remains top trend in India for second consecutive day</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The Indian prime minister's post received some offensive, racist, xenophobic and derogatory comments from some important Maldivian social media users, in which Indians were targeted at large, as well as Modi.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Which Maldivian ministers took a dig at Modi?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Among the hate comments shared on social media&nbsp;was one by Maldives’ Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Mariyam Shiuna, who wrote: “What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr. Narendra diver with life jacket. #VisitMaldives #SunnySideOfLife”. Shiuna, in the now-deleted post, also compared India to cow dung.<br />
<br />
Shiuna's fellow deputy minister Malsha Shareef also posted similar derogatory comments against&nbsp;the tourism campaign for Lakshadweep and India.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, a member of Maldives' ruling Progressive Party Abdulla Mahzoom Majid also shared an image which was reported to be of Bora Bora islands in French Polynesia and claimed it to be an image of an island resort in the Maldives.<br />
<br />
“Sun set in Maldives. You won’t see this in Lakshadweep. #Visit Maldives. CC: @narendramodi (sic),” he wrote.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How did Maldives react to the social media war?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The government of Maldives quickly distanced itself from their comments and the three ministers were immediately suspended. The Maldives government, in a statement, said that it was aware of “derogatory” comments made on social media but stressed the “opinions are personal” and do not represent its views.<br />
<br />
“The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners,” it added.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How heavily does tourism in Maldives rely on India?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">As per the media reports, tourism in Maldives is heavily reliant on India and a major part of their income comes from the nation. In 2023, more than 209,000 trips were made by Indian tourists to Maldives which covers 11 per cent of its tourism market, as per the statistics released recently.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How did Indians react to the hate remarks for Lakshadweep?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">However, the derogatory remarks made by the Maldivian officials have angered many Indian holidaymakers, some of whom also shared screenshots of their cancellation of trips to Maldives on social media with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Israel's desalination project to help India's Lakshadweep Islands</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israels-desalination-project-to-help-indias-lakshadweep-islands-678277/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">India's famous personalities, from Bollywood actors to cricket players, also appealed to fans to travel to local destinations instead with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep, which means&nbsp;“Let’s go to Lakshadweep”. Such social media campaigns led to a sudden inquiry about&nbsp;vacation visits to the archipelago.<br />
<br />
Bollywood actors like Akshay Kumar further called the remarks made by Maldivian officials “hateful and racist.” “We are good to our neighbours but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? I’ve visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism,” he said.<br />
<br />
Indian travel sites, which included EaseMyTrip, also decided to boycott Maldives amid the growing tension. EaseMyTrip announced that it has suspended bookings for flights to Maldives.<br />
<br />
Taking to X, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip Nishant Pitti said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, The Confederation of All India Traders, which is the country's one of the biggest trade bodies, also appealed to members to suspend their business with Maldives.<br />
<br />
In a statement, the group's Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said, “Until the Maldives tender an apology or ensure remedial measures, the trading community in India will refrain from doing business with them.”<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, in a post on X, called the remarks by officials “unacceptable” and added that the archipelago is committed to “fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with our partners.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


“I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” these were some of the words posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Instagram along with the image of him enjoying the weather on the beach in the country's union territory of Lakshadweep on January 5.

“I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” these were some of the words posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Instagram along with the image of him enjoying the weather on the beach in the country's union territory of Lakshadweep on January 5. What appeared to the world just some images from an official visit made by the Indian prime minister soon led to a controversy and unexpected diplomatic row between India and Maldives. How did the social media war begin? The social media war started after PM Modi shared images of walking along a beach and snorkelling in Lakshadweep, which is a southern Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea, near the coast of Kerala. No mention or references to Maldives or any other island nation which is popular among tourists was made in the post, however, still, the archipelago's beautiful scenery appeared to offend the Maldivian politicians and government officials in some way and started a war on social media with Indian users. Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024 × One apparent reason can also be that Maldives saw the posts as a threat to its own tourism, to which Indians are a massive contributor. Also read: Maldives jittery as ‘Lakshadweep’ remains top trend in India for second consecutive day The Indian prime minister's post received some offensive, racist, xenophobic and derogatory comments from some important Maldivian social media users, in which Indians were targeted at large, as well as Modi. Which Maldivian ministers took a dig at Modi? Among the hate comments shared on social media was one by Maldives’ Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Mariyam Shiuna, who wrote: “What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr. Narendra diver with life jacket. #VisitMaldives #SunnySideOfLife”. Shiuna, in the now-deleted post, also compared India to cow dung. Shiuna's fellow deputy minister Malsha Shareef also posted similar derogatory comments against the tourism campaign for Lakshadweep and India. Meanwhile, a member of Maldives' ruling Progressive Party Abdulla Mahzoom Majid also shared an image which was reported to be of Bora Bora islands in French Polynesia and claimed it to be an image of an island resort in the Maldives. “Sun set in Maldives. You won’t see this in Lakshadweep. #Visit Maldives. CC: @narendramodi (sic),” he wrote. How did Maldives react to the social media war? The government of Maldives quickly distanced itself from their comments and the three ministers were immediately suspended. The Maldives government, in a statement, said that it was aware of “derogatory” comments made on social media but stressed the “opinions are personal” and do not represent its views. “The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners,” it added. How heavily does tourism in Maldives rely on India? As per the media reports, tourism in Maldives is heavily reliant on India and a major part of their income comes from the nation. In 2023, more than 209,000 trips were made by Indian tourists to Maldives which covers 11 per cent of its tourism market, as per the statistics released recently. How did Indians react to the hate remarks for Lakshadweep? However, the derogatory remarks made by the Maldivian officials have angered many Indian holidaymakers, some of whom also shared screenshots of their cancellation of trips to Maldives on social media with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives. Watch: Israel's desalination project to help India's Lakshadweep Islands India's famous personalities, from Bollywood actors to cricket players, also appealed to fans to travel to local destinations instead with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep, which means “Let’s go to Lakshadweep”. Such social media campaigns led to a sudden inquiry about vacation visits to the archipelago. Bollywood actors like Akshay Kumar further called the remarks made by Maldivian officials “hateful and racist.” “We are good to our neighbours but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? I’ve visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism,” he said. Indian travel sites, which included EaseMyTrip, also decided to boycott Maldives amid the growing tension. EaseMyTrip announced that it has suspended bookings for flights to Maldives. Taking to X, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip Nishant Pitti said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.” Meanwhile, The Confederation of All India Traders, which is the country's one of the biggest trade bodies, also appealed to members to suspend their business with Maldives. In a statement, the group's Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said, “Until the Maldives tender an apology or ensure remedial measures, the trading community in India will refrain from doing business with them.” Meanwhile, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, in a post on X, called the remarks by officials “unacceptable” and added that the archipelago is committed to “fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with our partners.” (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep?

<p>Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu urged China to "intensify efforts" in sending more Chinese tourists, as a diplomatic row continued over derogatory remarks by Maldivian politicians against Indian PM Narendra Modi for promoting Lakshadweep as a destination for Indian tourists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"China was our (Maldives') number one market pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," Muizzu told the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province on Tuesday (Jan&nbsp; 9) during his official visit to China, as per an official readout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His remarks came in the wake of Maldivian ministers' derogatory remarks against India which triggered sharp reactions from Indians to boycott the island country as a tourism destination.</p>

<p>Notably, there has been a slew of travel cancellations to the Maldives by Indian tourists following the diplomatic row where one of the sitting ministers of Muizzu's government passed unwelcome&nbsp;comments against Indian PM Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-ecuador-on-edge-as-armed-men-storm-tv-station-state-of-emergency-declared-678390">Ecuador: Gunshots on live TV broadcast send shockwaves amid country's state of emergency | Video</a></p>

<p>Muizzu, who is known for his pro-China stance, is on a five-day state visit to China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During his Tuesday (Jan 9) address, the Maldivian president said, "China remains one of our closest allies and development partners."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He even went on to appreciate China's&nbsp;Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects launched in 2014 in the archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-blinken-tells-netanyahu-to-avoid-further-civilian-harm-in-gaza-678383">Israel-Hamas war: Blinken tells Netanyahu to avoid 'further civilian harm' in Gaza</a></p>

<p>Muizzu said that these initiatives "delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history".</p>

<p>It is also reported in Maldivian media that China and Maldives signed a USD 50 million project to develop an integrated tourism zone in Maldives.</p>

<p>After the row following PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Muizzu's government suspended three deputy ministers who made abusive posts against India.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/antony-blinken-israel-must-stop-undercutting-palestinians-ability-to-govern-678393">Antony Blinken: Israel 'must stop' undercutting Palestinian's ability to govern</a></strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, in India, the number of inquiries for travel to Lakshadweep has increased.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) President, Jyoti Mayal <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/inquiries-for-lakshadweep-surging-none-for-maldives-taai-president-jyoti-mayal-to-wion-678303">told WION </a>that Maldives' Tour Operators and Travel Associations, in a letter to the organisation, have distanced themselves from the remarks by the sitting minister of Maldives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, India was the largest contributor to the Maldives tourist market in 2023.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu urged China to "intensify efforts" in sending more Chinese tourists, as a diplomatic row continued over derogatory remarks by Maldivian politicians against Indian PM Narendra Modi for promoting Lakshadweep as a destination for Indian tourists.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu urged China to "intensify efforts" in sending more Chinese tourists, as a diplomatic row continued over derogatory remarks by Maldivian politicians against Indian PM Narendra Modi for promoting Lakshadweep as a destination for Indian tourists. "China was our (Maldives') number one market pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," Muizzu told the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province on Tuesday (Jan 9) during his official visit to China, as per an official readout. His remarks came in the wake of Maldivian ministers' derogatory remarks against India which triggered sharp reactions from Indians to boycott the island country as a tourism destination. Notably, there has been a slew of travel cancellations to the Maldives by Indian tourists following the diplomatic row where one of the sitting ministers of Muizzu's government passed unwelcome comments against Indian PM Modi. Also Read | Ecuador: Gunshots on live TV broadcast send shockwaves amid country's state of emergency | Video Muizzu, who is known for his pro-China stance, is on a five-day state visit to China. During his Tuesday (Jan 9) address, the Maldivian president said, "China remains one of our closest allies and development partners." He even went on to appreciate China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects launched in 2014 in the archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. Also Read | Israel-Hamas war: Blinken tells Netanyahu to avoid 'further civilian harm' in Gaza Muizzu said that these initiatives "delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history". It is also reported in Maldivian media that China and Maldives signed a USD 50 million project to develop an integrated tourism zone in Maldives. After the row following PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Muizzu's government suspended three deputy ministers who made abusive posts against India. Watch | Antony Blinken: Israel 'must stop' undercutting Palestinian's ability to govern × Meanwhile, in India, the number of inquiries for travel to Lakshadweep has increased. Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) President, Jyoti Mayal told WION that Maldives' Tour Operators and Travel Associations, in a letter to the organisation, have distanced themselves from the remarks by the sitting minister of Maldives. Notably, India was the largest contributor to the Maldives tourist market in 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid India-Maldives row, President Muizzu seeks China's support to boost tourism

Can India's political heat burn Maldives' govt? Indian tourists accounted for the most number of foreign arrivals in 2023. A top travel operator of Maldives has sent an apology letter to India's EaseMyTrip pleading to reopen flight bookings.

Gravitas: Can India's political heat burn Maldives' govt? | Tourism body sends apology letter

<p>Maldives Opposition leader and chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party, Fayyaz Ismail, on Wednesday (Jan 10) said that the country’s government should make a stronger statement against disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indians.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Tougher stand’</strong></h2>

<p>In a recent interview, Maldives’ opposition leader said that the government should take a “tougher stand” against the racist remarks directed towards Indians and PM Modi to repair the strained ties between the two countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I personally believe the government should take a tougher stand on that because this goes beyond government to government. Now, because of the ease of accessibility of social media, this has reached to a lot of Indians and to a lot of Maldivians. And as arguments take over from both side, there has lot of insults coming back and forth,” said Ismail, as quoted by ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-raises-concerns-over-derogatory-comments-by-maldives-minister-against-pm-modi-677434">Exclusive: India raises concerns over derogatory comments by Maldives minister against PM Modi</a></strong></p>

<p>He noted that the incumbent government needs to make more efforts to show that there was no intention on the part of the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“These were just isolated individual opinions of these people who, unfortunately, were given positions in the government. So that needs to be clearly shown to the Indians, to the Maldivians, and to the entire world at large,” said Ismail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last week, the Indian PM posted images of himself enjoying&nbsp;on the beach in the country’s union territory of Lakshadweep, which not only garnered some offensive and racist remarks from people on social media but also sparked an unexpected diplomatic row between New Delhi and Male.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among those who wrote racist remarks against Indians and PM Modi on social media were ministers from the current&nbsp;Maldivian&nbsp;government.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-how-pm-modis-lakshadweep-visit-sparked-diplomatic-tensions-between-india-and-maldives-678432">Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep?</a></strong></p>

<p>Male has since suspended three deputy ministers over the remarks and distanced itself from the comments saying they do not represent the country’s official position.</p>

<h2><strong>China factor</strong></h2>

<p>During the Wednesday interview, the opposition leader also admitted that his country currently has stronger ties with China. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who came into power after the elections late last year, is&nbsp;in the midst of a visit to Beijing.&nbsp;Amid ‘boycott Maldives’ calls in India he has appealed to China to send more tourists to the island nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking about the Maldivian president’s visit, Ismail said, “Well, first of all, there is no doubt that the current government has a more favourable or stronger relation with China. The Maldives has always maintained friendly relations with all countries, except for Israel.”</p>

<p>He added, “So with the change in the political spectrum in Maldives, with the change in political parties, there will always be shifts in the intensity of engagement with different partners, obviously. And in this case, you're seeing more robust engagement with China rather than India.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-maldives-proposes-president-muizzus-visit-to-india-678022">Exclusive: Maldives had proposed President Muizzu's India visit before current crisis erupted</a></strong></p>

<p>Ismail also spoke about how Maldives had been maintaining an India-first policy but the foreign policy under the new government has shifted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Until now, we have always, all parties in the Maldives maintained an India-first policy, and that is also very crucial for our security and stability as well. But this government may have different approaches to its foreign policy, and maintaining good relations with China is not an issue that any party in the Maldives would also want,” said Ismail, as quoted by ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Maldives Opposition leader and chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party, Fayyaz Ismail, on Wednesday (Jan 10) said that the country’s government should make a stronger statement against disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indians.

Maldives Opposition leader and chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party, Fayyaz Ismail, on Wednesday (Jan 10) said that the country’s government should make a stronger statement against disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indians. ‘Tougher stand’ In a recent interview, Maldives’ opposition leader said that the government should take a “tougher stand” against the racist remarks directed towards Indians and PM Modi to repair the strained ties between the two countries. “I personally believe the government should take a tougher stand on that because this goes beyond government to government. Now, because of the ease of accessibility of social media, this has reached to a lot of Indians and to a lot of Maldivians. And as arguments take over from both side, there has lot of insults coming back and forth,” said Ismail, as quoted by ANI. ALSO READ | Exclusive: India raises concerns over derogatory comments by Maldives minister against PM Modi He noted that the incumbent government needs to make more efforts to show that there was no intention on the part of the government. “These were just isolated individual opinions of these people who, unfortunately, were given positions in the government. So that needs to be clearly shown to the Indians, to the Maldivians, and to the entire world at large,” said Ismail. Last week, the Indian PM posted images of himself enjoying on the beach in the country’s union territory of Lakshadweep, which not only garnered some offensive and racist remarks from people on social media but also sparked an unexpected diplomatic row between New Delhi and Male. Among those who wrote racist remarks against Indians and PM Modi on social media were ministers from the current Maldivian government. ALSO READ | Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep? Male has since suspended three deputy ministers over the remarks and distanced itself from the comments saying they do not represent the country’s official position. China factor During the Wednesday interview, the opposition leader also admitted that his country currently has stronger ties with China. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who came into power after the elections late last year, is in the midst of a visit to Beijing. Amid ‘boycott Maldives’ calls in India he has appealed to China to send more tourists to the island nation. Speaking about the Maldivian president’s visit, Ismail said, “Well, first of all, there is no doubt that the current government has a more favourable or stronger relation with China. The Maldives has always maintained friendly relations with all countries, except for Israel.” He added, “So with the change in the political spectrum in Maldives, with the change in political parties, there will always be shifts in the intensity of engagement with different partners, obviously. And in this case, you're seeing more robust engagement with China rather than India.” ALSO READ | Exclusive: Maldives had proposed President Muizzu's India visit before current crisis erupted Ismail also spoke about how Maldives had been maintaining an India-first policy but the foreign policy under the new government has shifted. “Until now, we have always, all parties in the Maldives maintained an India-first policy, and that is also very crucial for our security and stability as well. But this government may have different approaches to its foreign policy, and maintaining good relations with China is not an issue that any party in the Maldives would also want,” said Ismail, as quoted by ANI. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Maldives govt must make stronger statement to repair ties with India,’ says Maldives oppn leader

<p lang="en-US">Maldives' prominent tourism body “Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operators” (MATATO), amid a diplomatic row over tourism between India and the Maldives, appealed to India-based travel aggregator EaseMyTrip to restart flight bookings for the island nation on its platform.<br />
<br />
The tension between the two countries escalated after three ministers posted hate&nbsp;comments over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep.<br />
<br />
The MATATO on Tuesday (Jan 9) appealed EaseMyTrip to disregard the "regrettable" comments, and stated that they "did not reflect sentiments of Maldivians in general".<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators writes to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti to re-open flight bookings to Maldives <a href="https://t.co/ojCxpPar7b">pic.twitter.com/ojCxpPar7b</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1744722098902458812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
The statement by the body, which was addressed to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti, emphasised the importance of Indian tourists, who have been the highest in numbers to have visited the country post-Covid, giving a major boost to the Maldivian economy.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-how-pm-modis-lakshadweep-visit-sparked-diplomatic-tensions-between-india-and-maldives-678432">Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep?</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">"In expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the enduring friendship and partnership that defines the relationship between the Maldives and India, we want you to know the bonds connecting our nations transcend politics. We consider our Indian counterparts... as cherished brothers and sisters,” said MATATO, in a statement.<br />
<br />
"Tourism stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work in the sector. The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy,” it added.<br />
<br />
MATATO said that the Indian tourists are "an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector, providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises..."</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>More than two lakh Indians holidayed in Maldives last year: ministry</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">As per the data collected by the Maldives Tourism Ministry, more than two lakh Indians went to Maldives last year, and more than 4.5 lakh travelled to the islands in the last two years. The Maldives also emerged as one of the few countries which remained open for tourists even at the time of the pandemic and almost 63,000 Indians visited the place even&nbsp;at that time.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India-Maldives comment row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-maldives-comment-row-maldives-faces-heat-over-anti-india-comments-world-news-wion-678079/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">MATATO also appealed to everyone to "refrain from contributing to divisiveness through hateful comments". The statement by MATATO came after the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) slammed the "derogatory comments" made against PM Modi.<br />
<br />
Reacting to the remarks, EaseMyTrip had earlier taken a significant step and decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings. Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media platform X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Maldives' prominent tourism body “Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operators” (MATATO), amid a diplomatic row over tourism between India and the Maldives, appealed to India-based travel aggregator EaseMyTrip to restart flight bookings for the island nation on its platform.

Maldives' prominent tourism body “Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operators” (MATATO), amid a diplomatic row over tourism between India and the Maldives, appealed to India-based travel aggregator EaseMyTrip to restart flight bookings for the island nation on its platform. The tension between the two countries escalated after three ministers posted hate comments over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. The MATATO on Tuesday (Jan 9) appealed EaseMyTrip to disregard the "regrettable" comments, and stated that they "did not reflect sentiments of Maldivians in general". Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators writes to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti to re-open flight bookings to Maldives pic.twitter.com/ojCxpPar7b — ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2024 × The statement by the body, which was addressed to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti, emphasised the importance of Indian tourists, who have been the highest in numbers to have visited the country post-Covid, giving a major boost to the Maldivian economy. Also read: Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep? "In expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the enduring friendship and partnership that defines the relationship between the Maldives and India, we want you to know the bonds connecting our nations transcend politics. We consider our Indian counterparts... as cherished brothers and sisters,” said MATATO, in a statement. "Tourism stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work in the sector. The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy,” it added. MATATO said that the Indian tourists are "an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector, providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises..." More than two lakh Indians holidayed in Maldives last year: ministry As per the data collected by the Maldives Tourism Ministry, more than two lakh Indians went to Maldives last year, and more than 4.5 lakh travelled to the islands in the last two years. The Maldives also emerged as one of the few countries which remained open for tourists even at the time of the pandemic and almost 63,000 Indians visited the place even at that time. Watch: India-Maldives comment row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments MATATO also appealed to everyone to "refrain from contributing to divisiveness through hateful comments". The statement by MATATO came after the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) slammed the "derogatory comments" made against PM Modi. Reacting to the remarks, EaseMyTrip had earlier taken a significant step and decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings. Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media platform X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.” (With inputs from agencies)

Maldives tourism body says Indian tourists boost their economy, wants them to visit

<p>Maldives Member of Parliament Zahid Rameez, who faced criticism for disparaging remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extended birthday wishes to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on the social media platform X.</p>

<p>Zahid Rameez conveyed his birthday wishes to&nbsp;Jaishankar, expressing hopes for a year filled with success and positive diplomatic endeavours.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Birthday to the esteemed Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar! 🎉 Wishing you a year filled with success and positive diplomatic endeavors. 🇲🇻🇮🇳 <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a> <a href="https://t.co/As6U21vbLr">https://t.co/As6U21vbLr</a></p>
— Zahid Rameez (@xahidcreator) <a href="https://twitter.com/xahidcreator/status/1744587902607315228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>This comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions due to controversial comments made by Maldivian ministers, including Rameez, directed at PM Modi.</p>

<p>The controversy erupted when PM Modi's efforts to promote the Indian archepelago of Lakshadweep as a tourist destination sparked backlash from some Maldivian ministers.</p>

<p>PM Modi's viral social media posts, showcasing him snorkeling, led to suggestions on social media proposing Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist spot to the Maldives.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-leader-demands-ouster-of-president-muizzu-amid-india-row-678224">Also read |&nbsp;Maldives leader demands ouster of President Muizzu over strained ties with India</a></p>

<h2><strong>Criticism and outrage</strong></h2>

<p>Zahid Rameez, in particular, expressed skepticism about the competition posed by Lakshadweep, stating, "The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall."</p>

<p>This prompted a significant uproar, both within the Maldives and internationally.</p>

<p>In response to the derogatory remarks against PM Modi, Maldives took swift action, suspending ministers Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid.</p>

<p>The move was met with widespread criticism within the country, with prominent leaders condemning the statements against India, its "closest neighbour."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Maldives Government must issue a formal apology to India: MP Eva Abdulla</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maldives-government-must-issue-a-formal-apology-to-india-mp-eva-abdulla-677720/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Mariya Ahmed Didi, a former defence minister and leader of the Maldives' largest opposition party, the MNP, criticised the ruling People's National Congress for potentially straining an "age-old relationship."</p>

<p>She referred to India as her country's "911 call," emphasising the deep ties between the two nations.</p>

<p>The controversy also had repercussions on the tourism sector, with reports of several Indian tourists canceling their planned vacations to the Maldives.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Maldives Member of Parliament Zahid Rameez, who faced criticism for disparaging remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extended birthday wishes to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on the social media platform X.

Maldives Member of Parliament Zahid Rameez, who faced criticism for disparaging remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extended birthday wishes to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on the social media platform X. Zahid Rameez conveyed his birthday wishes to Jaishankar, expressing hopes for a year filled with success and positive diplomatic endeavours. Happy Birthday to the esteemed Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar! 🎉 Wishing you a year filled with success and positive diplomatic endeavors. 🇲🇻🇮🇳 @DrSJaishankar https://t.co/As6U21vbLr — Zahid Rameez (@xahidcreator) January 9, 2024 × This comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions due to controversial comments made by Maldivian ministers, including Rameez, directed at PM Modi. The controversy erupted when PM Modi's efforts to promote the Indian archepelago of Lakshadweep as a tourist destination sparked backlash from some Maldivian ministers. PM Modi's viral social media posts, showcasing him snorkeling, led to suggestions on social media proposing Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist spot to the Maldives. Also read | Maldives leader demands ouster of President Muizzu over strained ties with India Criticism and outrage Zahid Rameez, in particular, expressed skepticism about the competition posed by Lakshadweep, stating, "The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall." This prompted a significant uproar, both within the Maldives and internationally. In response to the derogatory remarks against PM Modi, Maldives took swift action, suspending ministers Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid. The move was met with widespread criticism within the country, with prominent leaders condemning the statements against India, its "closest neighbour." Also watch | Maldives Government must issue a formal apology to India: MP Eva Abdulla Mariya Ahmed Didi, a former defence minister and leader of the Maldives' largest opposition party, the MNP, criticised the ruling People's National Congress for potentially straining an "age-old relationship." She referred to India as her country's "911 call," emphasising the deep ties between the two nations. The controversy also had repercussions on the tourism sector, with reports of several Indian tourists canceling their planned vacations to the Maldives. (With inputs from agencies)

Maldives MP Zahid Rameez, critical of PM Modi, sends birthday greetings to S Jaishankar

<p>Maldives MP Meekail Naseem has proposed Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and suspended ministers Malsha, Maryam Shiuna, Mahzoom Masjid to be summoned by the Maldives Parliament. Speaking to WION's correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, "So the foreign minister will be summoned to the Parliament floor, and the rest of them, the deputy ministers who have been involved in making these derogatory remarks, they'll be properly summoned to the parliamentary committee, which is a Committee on Foreign Relations."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The suspended ministers had made derogatory remarks on PM Modi and India. In the aftermath of the incident and uproar, the Maldives government had suspended them and termed the views "personal".<br />
<br />
The MP said, "I am appalled but not shocked at what has happened. The current government and its officials constantly spill anti-India sentiments and rhetoric and that's what got them the government." Naseem is from opposition MDP party, which was the previous ruling party.</p>

<p><strong>WION:</strong> You have asked the Maldives Parliament to summon the Maldives FM and suspended ministers, how does it happen?<br />
<strong>Meekail Naseem:</strong> &nbsp;Yes, it will most definitely happen. So we gave the government I think sufficient time to take action and to issue a formal apology but we did not see that happen. And I think it is now time for the parliament to intervene and question them as to why they have been not taking this issue as seriously as they should be, and what more is being done by the government to resolve the matter and bring a closure to this diplomatic row that is being created by some social media activists as well as senior officials of the current ruling party.</p>

<p><strong>WION:</strong> So the summoning, will it happen in the parliament or before a specific panel of the parliament?<br />
<strong>Meekail Naseem:</strong> So the foreign minister will be summoned to the Parliament floor, and the rest of them, the deputy ministers who have been involved in making these derogatory remarks, they'll be properly summoned to the parliamentary committee, which is a Committee on Foreign Relations.</p>

<p><strong>WION: </strong>So essentially, do you think that the government will give in to the parliamentary demand because primarily so far we have seen only suspension of the minister? We haven't seen any termination. We haven't seen any apology from the government. So do you think that the government will give into it or they will be resistant to this demand?<br />
<strong>Meekail Naseem:</strong> Well, I do not know how the government intends to proceed. But I think it is basic decency at this point to just issue a formal apology and distance themselves from what the deputy ministers in the government have said. But I think that is not sufficient to just issue a vague statement as they did, which did not even mention what had happened, to whom it had happened and who did it, that none of this was mentioned. It was a very vague statement issued by the government which was quite frankly, embarrassing to the rest of us and I think it is time that the government was held to account. I think the deputy ministers who have made these careless remarks should be held to account and I don't think that the Maldivian people deserve to have such people representing us in such key positions I think this warrants a sacking and they should be fired immediately, in my view.</p>

<p><strong>WION:</strong> So we have also team demands of a no-confidence motion against the president. We have seen MPs pointing this out to that on social media. Do you think that this is something that is feasible and will your party support it?<br />
<strong>Meekail Naseem:</strong> Well, recently, we have lost a number of MPs and so our majority has slimmed down, but it's still possible. The numbers will add up with, I think, other opposition parties representing constituencies within the parliament. I think the numbers are sufficient, but whether there is a willingness from either side to push it till the very end. I think that's the real question. Whether there is the political will to do this.</p>

<p><strong>WION:</strong> So when it comes to this entire incident, how do you think that this incident has impacted your foreign policy?<br />
<strong>Meekail Naseem:</strong> Well, to be frank, I am appalled but not shocked at what has happened. The current government and its officials constantly spill anti-India sentiments and rhetoric and that's what got them the government. So I think in their view, in their personal view, it wasn't very, it wasn't a very odd thing to do, it was what they've been doing for years and years. And I think what we're seeing is just a culmination of the systematic effort to harm India in the perception of Maldivians and to harm the relationship that has been a time tested age-old relationship which we have had, regardless of the political party that was in government, regardless of who was the President. We have held this relationship. We have held an India-first policy but this is the first government that we are seeing that is behaving so recklessly and refusing to even own up to what it has done.</p>


Maldives MP Meekail Naseem has proposed Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and suspended ministers Malsha, Maryam Shiuna, Mahzoom Masjid to be summoned by the Maldives Parliament.

Maldives MP Meekail Naseem has proposed Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and suspended ministers Malsha, Maryam Shiuna, Mahzoom Masjid to be summoned by the Maldives Parliament. Speaking to WION's correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, "So the foreign minister will be summoned to the Parliament floor, and the rest of them, the deputy ministers who have been involved in making these derogatory remarks, they'll be properly summoned to the parliamentary committee, which is a Committee on Foreign Relations." The suspended ministers had made derogatory remarks on PM Modi and India. In the aftermath of the incident and uproar, the Maldives government had suspended them and termed the views "personal". The MP said, "I am appalled but not shocked at what has happened. The current government and its officials constantly spill anti-India sentiments and rhetoric and that's what got them the government." Naseem is from opposition MDP party, which was the previous ruling party. WION: You have asked the Maldives Parliament to summon the Maldives FM and suspended ministers, how does it happen? Meekail Naseem: Yes, it will most definitely happen. So we gave the government I think sufficient time to take action and to issue a formal apology but we did not see that happen. And I think it is now time for the parliament to intervene and question them as to why they have been not taking this issue as seriously as they should be, and what more is being done by the government to resolve the matter and bring a closure to this diplomatic row that is being created by some social media activists as well as senior officials of the current ruling party. WION: So the summoning, will it happen in the parliament or before a specific panel of the parliament? Meekail Naseem: So the foreign minister will be summoned to the Parliament floor, and the rest of them, the deputy ministers who have been involved in making these derogatory remarks, they'll be properly summoned to the parliamentary committee, which is a Committee on Foreign Relations. WION: So essentially, do you think that the government will give in to the parliamentary demand because primarily so far we have seen only suspension of the minister? We haven't seen any termination. We haven't seen any apology from the government. So do you think that the government will give into it or they will be resistant to this demand? Meekail Naseem: Well, I do not know how the government intends to proceed. But I think it is basic decency at this point to just issue a formal apology and distance themselves from what the deputy ministers in the government have said. But I think that is not sufficient to just issue a vague statement as they did, which did not even mention what had happened, to whom it had happened and who did it, that none of this was mentioned. It was a very vague statement issued by the government which was quite frankly, embarrassing to the rest of us and I think it is time that the government was held to account. I think the deputy ministers who have made these careless remarks should be held to account and I don't think that the Maldivian people deserve to have such people representing us in such key positions I think this warrants a sacking and they should be fired immediately, in my view. WION: So we have also team demands of a no-confidence motion against the president. We have seen MPs pointing this out to that on social media. Do you think that this is something that is feasible and will your party support it? Meekail Naseem: Well, recently, we have lost a number of MPs and so our majority has slimmed down, but it's still possible. The numbers will add up with, I think, other opposition parties representing constituencies within the parliament. I think the numbers are sufficient, but whether there is a willingness from either side to push it till the very end. I think that's the real question. Whether there is the political will to do this. WION: So when it comes to this entire incident, how do you think that this incident has impacted your foreign policy? Meekail Naseem: Well, to be frank, I am appalled but not shocked at what has happened. The current government and its officials constantly spill anti-India sentiments and rhetoric and that's what got them the government. So I think in their view, in their personal view, it wasn't very, it wasn't a very odd thing to do, it was what they've been doing for years and years. And I think what we're seeing is just a culmination of the systematic effort to harm India in the perception of Maldivians and to harm the relationship that has been a time tested age-old relationship which we have had, regardless of the political party that was in government, regardless of who was the President. We have held this relationship. We have held an India-first policy but this is the first government that we are seeing that is behaving so recklessly and refusing to even own up to what it has done.

Derogatory remarks row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign minister and suspended ministers

The social media is filled with 'Boycott Maldives' hashtag. Following derogatory comments by Maldivian officials about Indian PM Narendra Modi. The 3 ministers were soon suspended after their remarks drew criticism from India and abroad. To know more watch this interview with Maldives MP Mickail Naseem.

Maldives-India Row: WION speaks to Maldives MP Mickail Naseem

The social media is filled with 'Boycott Maldives' hashtag. Following derogatory comments by Maldivian officials about Indian PM Narendra Modi. It is now time for Maldives parliament to intervene, says Maldives MP Mickail Naseem in a conversation with WION . The 3 ministers were soon suspended after their remarks drew criticism from India and abroad.

India-Maldives comments row: Maldives propses visit by President Muizzu to India | India News | WION

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidi8l10ys2GX7V" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Maldives, China has jumped in, with its state media seeking to play down Beijing's role in contributing to the worsening of ties between New Delhi and Male.</p>

<p>A self-aggrandising state media article said China's relations with the island nation remain on the rise, and even cheekily&nbsp;advised New Delhi to keep an open mind when it comes to operating in the region with other South Asian countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The feature-length article in Chinese tabloid&nbsp;<em>Global Times</em>&nbsp;claimed Beijing had no part in pressuring the Maldives to pick up a fight with India. The partisan publication even claimed that New Delhi was responsible for the straining of ties between the two nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"India's strained relations with certain countries in South Asia can be attributed to its perception of being the regional boss. Instead of shifting blame to China, India should take a moment to reflect on its policies toward its neighbours and abandon the zero-sum mentality," read the article, titled "China-Maldives relations expected to reach new heights".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The bilateral relations between China and the Maldives are expected to reach new heights as Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu began his first state visit to China on Monday since taking office," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu was on a visit to China this week.</p>

<p>The tabloid article said the visit had raised concerns among Indian media outlets that the Maldivian leader was pursuing a pro-China policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, on the second day of his China trip, Muizzu praised Beijing as a valued ally and integral collaborator of the Indian Ocean island nation.</p>

<p>Muizzu, who is regarded as “pro-China,” preferred China as among the first foreign nations to visit since coming to power in November last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Usually, the tradition is that newly-elected Maldivian presidents visit India before embarking upon an official trip to any other nation.</p>

<p>However, Beijing neatly sidestepped the change in precedence, adding that it was open to a trilateral cooperation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It (China) is also willing to carry out trilateral cooperation between China, India and the Maldives. New Delhi should stay more open-minded, as China's cooperation with South Asian countries is not a zero-sum game," it said.</p>

<p>While China plays the good samaritan act, it is not the first time that relations between Maldives and India have turned frosty, primarily due to Beijing's interference.</p>

<p>When former president Abdullah Yameen was in power, his pro-China credentials created&nbsp;plenty of troubles in the India-Maldives ties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yameen had even signed the highly controversial Free Trade Agreement with China which practically submerged the country in China’s debt.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maldives-sacks-3-ministers-for-insulting-comments-on-pm-modi-india-maldives-derogatory-comment-row-677615" target="_blank"><strong>Watch | Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives derogatory comment row</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the India-Maldives controversy?</strong></h2>

<p>After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited<strong>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;Lakshadweep - an archipelago consisting of 36 islands located in the Arabian Sea, an online discourse started about whether the picturesque Indian region could be the next Maldives.</p>

<p>The idea, however, did not go down well with certain Maldivian government officials who started foul-mouthing PM Modi as well as India on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-maldives-diplomatic-row-maldivian-president-may-visit-india-next-month-678026" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | India-Maldives diplomatic row LIVE: Maldivian president may visit India next month</strong></a></p>

<p>A day later, India officially raised the matter with Male and even summoned the Maldivian high commissioner to the Ministry of External Affairs office.</p>

<p>Since then, Maldives has been attempting to mitigate the situation. It has suspended three junior ministers who made the remarks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Maldives, China has jumped in, with its state media seeking to play down Beijing's role in contributing to the worsening of ties between New Delhi and Male.

Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Maldives, China has jumped in, with its state media seeking to play down Beijing's role in contributing to the worsening of ties between New Delhi and Male. A self-aggrandising state media article said China's relations with the island nation remain on the rise, and even cheekily advised New Delhi to keep an open mind when it comes to operating in the region with other South Asian countries. The feature-length article in Chinese tabloid Global Times claimed Beijing had no part in pressuring the Maldives to pick up a fight with India. The partisan publication even claimed that New Delhi was responsible for the straining of ties between the two nations. "India's strained relations with certain countries in South Asia can be attributed to its perception of being the regional boss. Instead of shifting blame to China, India should take a moment to reflect on its policies toward its neighbours and abandon the zero-sum mentality," read the article, titled "China-Maldives relations expected to reach new heights". "The bilateral relations between China and the Maldives are expected to reach new heights as Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu began his first state visit to China on Monday since taking office," it added. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu was on a visit to China this week. The tabloid article said the visit had raised concerns among Indian media outlets that the Maldivian leader was pursuing a pro-China policy. Notably, on the second day of his China trip, Muizzu praised Beijing as a valued ally and integral collaborator of the Indian Ocean island nation. Muizzu, who is regarded as “pro-China,” preferred China as among the first foreign nations to visit since coming to power in November last year. Usually, the tradition is that newly-elected Maldivian presidents visit India before embarking upon an official trip to any other nation. However, Beijing neatly sidestepped the change in precedence, adding that it was open to a trilateral cooperation. "It (China) is also willing to carry out trilateral cooperation between China, India and the Maldives. New Delhi should stay more open-minded, as China's cooperation with South Asian countries is not a zero-sum game," it said. While China plays the good samaritan act, it is not the first time that relations between Maldives and India have turned frosty, primarily due to Beijing's interference. When former president Abdullah Yameen was in power, his pro-China credentials created plenty of troubles in the India-Maldives ties. Yameen had even signed the highly controversial Free Trade Agreement with China which practically submerged the country in China’s debt. Watch | Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives derogatory comment row × What is the India-Maldives controversy? After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep - an archipelago consisting of 36 islands located in the Arabian Sea, an online discourse started about whether the picturesque Indian region could be the next Maldives. The idea, however, did not go down well with certain Maldivian government officials who started foul-mouthing PM Modi as well as India on social media. Also read | India-Maldives diplomatic row LIVE: Maldivian president may visit India next month A day later, India officially raised the matter with Male and even summoned the Maldivian high commissioner to the Ministry of External Affairs office. Since then, Maldives has been attempting to mitigate the situation. It has suspended three junior ministers who made the remarks. (With inputs from agencies)

China seeks to play down its role amid India-Maldives diplomatic row

India-Maldives comment row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments | World News | WION

'Boycott Maldives' is gaining momentum in India. From businessmen to Bollywood celebs, all are taking part in 'Boycott Maldives' calls. While urging people to choose Indian destinations over foreign ones for vacations. Keep watching for more updates.

India-Maldives row: Amid row with India, Maldives urges China to send tourists

Maldives MP Mickail Naseem has proposed Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer & suspended ministers Malsha, Maryam Shiuna, Mahzoom Masjid to be summoned by the Maldives Parliament. Speaking to our correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, "So the foreign minister will be summoned to the Parliament floor, and the rest of them, the deputy ministers who have been involved in making these derogatory remarks, they'll be properly summoned to the parliamentary committee, which is a Committee on Foreign Relations." Watch to know more!

Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign & suspended ministers

The Maldives had proposed a visit by President Mohamed Muizzu to India later this month. President Muizzu, who assumed office in November of last year, has so far visited Turkey, the UAE, and China, since coming to power, marking a departure from the tradition of making India the first foreign destination for a newly-elected Maldivian president. The India visit was proposed before the current diplomatic crisis erupted over derogatory remarks by the ministers of the Muizzu government. To know more watch this interview with Former Indian Diplomat, Bhaswati Mukherjee.

Maldives proposes visit by President Muizzu's to India

The Maldives had proposed a visit by President Mohamed Muizzu to India later this month. President Muizzu, who assumed office in November of last year, has so far visited Turkey, the UAE, and China, since coming to power, marking a departure from the tradition of making India the first foreign destination for a newly-elected Maldivian president. The India visit was proposed before the current diplomatic crisis erupted over derogatory remarks by the ministers of the Muizzu government.

Maldives faces heat over Anti-India comments, proposes Muizzu's visit to India

<p>Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) President, Jyoti Mayal told WION that there has been a surge in travel inquiries for Lakshadweep while there are none for Maldives right now. Mayal also noted that Maldives' Tour Operators and Travel Associations, in a letter to the organisation, have distanced themselves from the remarks by the sitting minister of Maldives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mayal spoke to WION in detail and addressed concerns within the Maldives travel industry while also spotlighting opportunities in domestic tourism. Notably, Mariyam Shiuna, a sitting Maldives minister, made some derogatory comments about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he visited Lakshadweep.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Maldives Tour Operators and Travel Associations are reaching out to TAAI because we have a MoU with the Associations and the Ministry of Tourism there for working together. They are saying that this was not the opinion of everyone and this is an individual opinion."</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/lakshadweep-emerges-as-the-new-jewel-in-indian-beachgoers-wishlist-678226">Lakshadweep emerges as the new jewel in Indian beachgoers' wishlist</a></p>

<p>With many Indian tourists calling for a boycott of Maldives as a travel destination, Mayal said that it is the common man of Maldives who is paying the price of the row that erupted&nbsp;after derogatory remarks made by a sitting minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Highlighting the impact of political statements, Mayal stated, "When something like this happens, when some politician speaks, it is always the common man that gets affected. Everyone wants good business. Who does not want business from other countries so that they can prosper?"&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When we go ahead and go very vocal about it that we will not support Maldives, which is also very rightly so, because the views have come from a sitting minister. So obviously we will react and the common man bears the brunt and not the ministers."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India's domestic tourism market emerging&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Mayal said that India does not solely rely on Maldives for tourism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She pointed out that India has been actively promoting domestic destinations, particularly in the post-COVID era, with emerging markets and improved infrastructure.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-leader-demands-ouster-of-president-muizzu-amid-india-row-678224">Maldives leader demands ouster of President Muizzu over strained ties with India</a></p>

<p>"Especially post-COVID we have been selling domestic destinations a lot and it has become an emerging market and our infrastructure has got the best... I think from many others. We have last-mile connectivity, good hotels coming up, Bed and Breakfast coming up, and trains and flights have come in."</p>

<p>"The only thing where we are lacking right now is inbound tourism, but even those numbers will come up once the government realises what they have to put into it," she added while indicating a positive outlook for the tourism sector within India.</p>

<h2><strong>Lakshadweep as a travel destination&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While Mayal spoke on the growing interest in Lakshadweep she also mentioned the existing connectivity challenges.</p>

<p>"One has to understand that the connectivity is not so great right now. With one flight.. and you need permits to visit the islands. One does not need a permit to visit Andaman and Nicobar island but Lakhshwadeep has always been a protected area. For instance, Taj is opening two resorts there. So all the hotel chains are going to look into it. Airlines are looking at it now. If the PM wants us to do this, who is going to stop us?"</p>

<p>However, with the Prime Minister's visit to the region, she is anticipating that there will now be increased investment and development.</p>

<p>"If Lakshadweep&nbsp;is what they want to bring as an emerging, beautiful, and high-end destination, it is the right time to do it. We have anyway missed out on a lot of opportunities when our infrastructure was not good. But as it is getting better and better, there is an opportunity on how we can promote our own country," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mayal said that the peak season for Maldives tourism is from September to April.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She noted that while sentiments were hurt due to the derogatory comments, immediate cancellations were unlikely due to substantial cancellation charges and difficulties in obtaining refunds, just as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p>"During Covid, people were struggling to get refunds so people are not going to waste their money now," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td headers="view-title-table-column"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/videos/maldives-india-row-maldives-mp-urges-parliament-summoning-for-foreign-suspended-ministers-678173" hreflang="en">Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign &amp; suspended ministers</a></strong></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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<p>Responding to a question, Mayal concurred that it will take some time to understand if the number of Indian tourists to Maldives falls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"So yes, our sentiments are hurt because we have been abused in a certain manner. So obviously one feels upset about it. So no further inquiries are coming in right now for Maldives. Because people are looking at how this will affect a normal traveller. They are all sceptical about it right now," she underscored in light of the controversy.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) President, Jyoti Mayal told WION that there has been a surge in travel inquiries for Lakshadweep while there are none for Maldives right now.

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) President, Jyoti Mayal told WION that there has been a surge in travel inquiries for Lakshadweep while there are none for Maldives right now. Mayal also noted that Maldives' Tour Operators and Travel Associations, in a letter to the organisation, have distanced themselves from the remarks by the sitting minister of Maldives. Mayal spoke to WION in detail and addressed concerns within the Maldives travel industry while also spotlighting opportunities in domestic tourism. Notably, Mariyam Shiuna, a sitting Maldives minister, made some derogatory comments about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he visited Lakshadweep. "Maldives Tour Operators and Travel Associations are reaching out to TAAI because we have a MoU with the Associations and the Ministry of Tourism there for working together. They are saying that this was not the opinion of everyone and this is an individual opinion." Also Read | Lakshadweep emerges as the new jewel in Indian beachgoers' wishlist With many Indian tourists calling for a boycott of Maldives as a travel destination, Mayal said that it is the common man of Maldives who is paying the price of the row that erupted after derogatory remarks made by a sitting minister. Highlighting the impact of political statements, Mayal stated, "When something like this happens, when some politician speaks, it is always the common man that gets affected. Everyone wants good business. Who does not want business from other countries so that they can prosper?" "When we go ahead and go very vocal about it that we will not support Maldives, which is also very rightly so, because the views have come from a sitting minister. So obviously we will react and the common man bears the brunt and not the ministers." India's domestic tourism market emerging Mayal said that India does not solely rely on Maldives for tourism. She pointed out that India has been actively promoting domestic destinations, particularly in the post-COVID era, with emerging markets and improved infrastructure. Also Read | Maldives leader demands ouster of President Muizzu over strained ties with India "Especially post-COVID we have been selling domestic destinations a lot and it has become an emerging market and our infrastructure has got the best... I think from many others. We have last-mile connectivity, good hotels coming up, Bed and Breakfast coming up, and trains and flights have come in." "The only thing where we are lacking right now is inbound tourism, but even those numbers will come up once the government realises what they have to put into it," she added while indicating a positive outlook for the tourism sector within India. Lakshadweep as a travel destination While Mayal spoke on the growing interest in Lakshadweep she also mentioned the existing connectivity challenges. "One has to understand that the connectivity is not so great right now. With one flight.. and you need permits to visit the islands. One does not need a permit to visit Andaman and Nicobar island but Lakhshwadeep has always been a protected area. For instance, Taj is opening two resorts there. So all the hotel chains are going to look into it. Airlines are looking at it now. If the PM wants us to do this, who is going to stop us?" However, with the Prime Minister's visit to the region, she is anticipating that there will now be increased investment and development. "If Lakshadweep is what they want to bring as an emerging, beautiful, and high-end destination, it is the right time to do it. We have anyway missed out on a lot of opportunities when our infrastructure was not good. But as it is getting better and better, there is an opportunity on how we can promote our own country," she said. Mayal said that the peak season for Maldives tourism is from September to April. She noted that while sentiments were hurt due to the derogatory comments, immediate cancellations were unlikely due to substantial cancellation charges and difficulties in obtaining refunds, just as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. "During Covid, people were struggling to get refunds so people are not going to waste their money now," she added. Watch | Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign & suspended ministers × Responding to a question, Mayal concurred that it will take some time to understand if the number of Indian tourists to Maldives falls. "So yes, our sentiments are hurt because we have been abused in a certain manner. So obviously one feels upset about it. So no further inquiries are coming in right now for Maldives. Because people are looking at how this will affect a normal traveller. They are all sceptical about it right now," she underscored in light of the controversy.

Inquiries for Lakshadweep surging, none for Maldives: TAAI President Jyoti Mayal to WION

Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP Mickail Naseem calls on parliament to summon foreign minister

<p>A Maldives leader, parliamentarian no less, has demanded President Mohamed Muizzu's ouster from his post as the country battles a diplomatic row with longstanding ally India. Ali Azim, Parliamentary Minority Leader in the Maldivian parliament has made this demand publicly, taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Though he does not explicitly mention India in his post, he has indicated that a vote of no-confidence be held against President Muizzu.</p>

<p>"We, d Democrats, r dedicated to upholding d stability of the nation's foreign policy n preventing d isolation of any neighboring country. R u willing to take all necessary steps to remove prez @MMuizzu &nbsp;from power? Is @MDPSecretariat prepared to initiate a vote of no confidence?" says Azim's post in English.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We, d Democrats, r dedicated to upholding d stability of the nation's foreign policy n preventing d isolation of any neighboring country.<br />
R u willing to take all necessary steps to remove prez <a href="https://twitter.com/MMuizzu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MMuizzu</a> from power? Is <a href="https://twitter.com/MDPSecretariat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MDPSecretariat</a> prepared to initiate a vote of no confidence?</p>
— 𝐀𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐳𝐢𝐦 (@aliaazim) <a href="https://twitter.com/aliaazim/status/1744219091752329589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>India and the Maldives, traditional allies with the former being a major benefactor of the latter, are going through a phase of strained bilateral relations. The tensions came to the fore after Maldivian ministers' derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media a few days ago. Since all this has happened under the presidency of Muizzu who is perceived to be leaning towards China, the entire affair has assumed grave political connotations.</p>

<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-ex-vice-president-calls-current-india-maldives-row-very-sad-incident-677877">Exclusive: Ex-vice president calls current India-Maldives row ‘very sad’ incident</a></strong></p>

<p>Just a few days ago, Maldivian deputy minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna took to X to post a disrespectful reference to PM Narendra Modi who visited Lakshadweep Islands, an Indian archipelago close to the Maldives which itself is an archipelago nation.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign &amp; suspended ministers</strong></p>

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<p>PM Modi was on a tour of the Lakshadweep Islands, a trip which was seen to have a political signal to the Maldives.</p>

<p><strong>Read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-maldives-proposes-president-muizzus-visit-to-india-678022"><strong>Exclusive: Maldives had proposed President Muizzu's India visit before current crisis erupted</strong></a></p>

<p>But Maldivian ministers faced widespread flak and ridicule online for personal attacks on PM Modi and even the Maldivian government distanced itself from the disrespectful posts. Maldives has even suspended the ministers giving them a stern warning.</p>

<p>“All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately,” Ibrahim Khaleel, spokesperson for the president of Maldives said earlier.</p>

<p>The controversial posts have been deleted but the screenshots are being circulated widely online keeping the issue alive.</p>

<p>The personal attack in language not even remotely parliamentary created anger among the public in India with many demanding to 'Boycott' Maldives which is a tropical holiday destination for Indian tourists. A large part of Maldives' revenue comes from its tourism industry.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A Maldives leader, parliamentarian no less, has demanded President Mohamed Muizzu's ouster from his post as the country battles a diplomatic row with longstanding ally India.

A Maldives leader, parliamentarian no less, has demanded President Mohamed Muizzu's ouster from his post as the country battles a diplomatic row with longstanding ally India. Ali Azim, Parliamentary Minority Leader in the Maldivian parliament has made this demand publicly, taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Though he does not explicitly mention India in his post, he has indicated that a vote of no-confidence be held against President Muizzu. "We, d Democrats, r dedicated to upholding d stability of the nation's foreign policy n preventing d isolation of any neighboring country. R u willing to take all necessary steps to remove prez @MMuizzu from power? Is @MDPSecretariat prepared to initiate a vote of no confidence?" says Azim's post in English. We, d Democrats, r dedicated to upholding d stability of the nation's foreign policy n preventing d isolation of any neighboring country. R u willing to take all necessary steps to remove prez @MMuizzu from power? Is @MDPSecretariat prepared to initiate a vote of no confidence? — 𝐀𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐳𝐢𝐦 (@aliaazim) January 8, 2024 × India and the Maldives, traditional allies with the former being a major benefactor of the latter, are going through a phase of strained bilateral relations. The tensions came to the fore after Maldivian ministers' derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media a few days ago. Since all this has happened under the presidency of Muizzu who is perceived to be leaning towards China, the entire affair has assumed grave political connotations. Read | Exclusive: Ex-vice president calls current India-Maldives row ‘very sad’ incident Just a few days ago, Maldivian deputy minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna took to X to post a disrespectful reference to PM Narendra Modi who visited Lakshadweep Islands, an Indian archipelago close to the Maldives which itself is an archipelago nation. Watch | Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign & suspended ministers × PM Modi was on a tour of the Lakshadweep Islands, a trip which was seen to have a political signal to the Maldives. Read | Exclusive: Maldives had proposed President Muizzu's India visit before current crisis erupted But Maldivian ministers faced widespread flak and ridicule online for personal attacks on PM Modi and even the Maldivian government distanced itself from the disrespectful posts. Maldives has even suspended the ministers giving them a stern warning. “All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately,” Ibrahim Khaleel, spokesperson for the president of Maldives said earlier. The controversial posts have been deleted but the screenshots are being circulated widely online keeping the issue alive. The personal attack in language not even remotely parliamentary created anger among the public in India with many demanding to 'Boycott' Maldives which is a tropical holiday destination for Indian tourists. A large part of Maldives' revenue comes from its tourism industry. (With inputs from agencies)

Maldives leader demands ouster of President Muizzu over strained ties with India

Lakshadweep to get Israeli desalination plant. Israel is one of the leading players in the desalination process. The announcement comes amid India-Maldives tensions.

Israel's desalination project to help India's Lakshadweep Islands

The bilateral relationship between India and the Maldives had always been positive before the Muizzu government assumed power in Maldives last year and things have only gone from bad to worse in recent days with three of his ministers passing derogatory remarks against Indian PM sparking a diplomatic row.

Maldives Pres announces India visit after diplomatic row | Too little too late? | In-Live Discussion

<p>There should be a new proverb for Bollywood to match the times: Put your money where your tweets are.</p>

<p>After a couple of days of raging controversies involving politicians close to the new regime in the Maldives, visibly close to the Chinese establishment, Lakshadweep is the hot new term for India's movie stars because some elite Maldivians disparaged Indians&nbsp;days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was clicked snorkelling at the Indian archipelago.</p>

<p>But there's a catch somewhere, as we shall see.</p>

<p>Everybody and his uncle in Bollywood rallied to tell the world, which essentially meant eager Indian beach lovers and out-of-the-box honeymooners thinking beyond Goa, that they should ditch the arrogant Maldivians for our desi version, Lakshadweep.</p>

<p>As a schoolboy, I worked hard to get brownie points for remembering things like how the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindvi Islands were elegantly and Sanskritisingly renamed as Lakshadweep. But like many things south of the Vindhyas, this falls in the "Madrasi" category for affluent northerners -- something remembered vaguely and forgotten quickly.</p>

<p>In the same 1970s that Lakshadweep got its current name, there was a famous catchphrase to explain an Indian fascination for overseas thingies: "craze for phoren". It was natural therefore that the Maldives became a preferred alternative for honeymooners and sundry beach vacationers.</p>

<p>When not in the news for political tumult or sob stories about its vulnerability to climate change, the archipelago made merry as an attractive destination for Indian vacationers.</p>

<p>With silver beaches, pristine waters and blue skies, Lakshadweep matches up to the Maldives, though we shall not debate infrastructure and other stuff like costs that we shall leave to the touristy analysts. But, in terms of distance, Lakshadweep, 400 km off the Kerala coast from Kochi, stands at half the 800 km you would need to fly to reach the Maldives.</p>

<p>But there are 325 international flights every week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/maldives-vs-lakshadweep-india-s-airlines-yet-to-look-inwards-with-flight-frequencies-101704696712641.html">connecting </a>the Maldives, whose biggest chunk of tourists comes from India, compared with barely one flight a day from India to Lakshadweep (No direct flights from anywhere except Kochi, thank you!).&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-maldives-row-maldives-faces-heat-over-anti-india-comments-proposes-muizzus-visit-to-india-678169"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;India-Maldives Row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments, proposes Muizzu's visit to India</strong></a></p>

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<p>Presumably, it is a heady cocktail of the "craze for phoren" (visa-free at that) and great marketing by the Maldivians (and a poor counter from our own union territory) that keeps Lakshadweep a poor cousin.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, we have Bollywood's A-graders firing from their X/Twitter-loaded smartphone guns that Indians should ditch the Maldives for Lakshadweep. A casual Google search (Lakshadweep + Bollywood) assaults us with stories from the past two days listing everyone&nbsp;from Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan to lesser mortals extolling the virtues of Lakshadweep.</p>

<p>Here's where the catch is. Where were Hindi cinema's famous crews all these years? Switzerland, New Zealand and god knows who else has been wooing Bollywooders to shoot in their exotic locales. We have had movies like Agent Vinod (Morocco), Chalte Chalte (Greece), and Tamasha (Corsica) joining less enchanting locales. But try finding Lakshadweep as I did, and you are likely to draw a blank unless you are a compulsive trivia collector or extra deep researcher.</p>

<p>But where Bollywood failed, Mollywood, Kerala's own thriving film industry, has had its scenic Malayalam shots at Lakshadweep. Flush (2023), Anarkali (2015) and Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal (2014) were joined in 2018 by Sinjar, made in Lakshadweep's own Jasari language.</p>

<p>The Maldivians are a lot luckier with Bollywood.</p>

<p>Apart from several international movies, including one based on Salman Rushdie's Booker-winning novel 'Midnight's Children', the Maldives has witnessed location shooting for at least four Hindi commercial movies including Samundar (1986), Ek Villian (2014), Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005) and the Akshay Kumar flop Ram Setu (2022).</p>

<p>So, Mollywood went to Lakshadweep, and Bollywood went to the Maldives. Get the picture?</p>

<p>Perhaps it is time to tell Bollywooders: Put your money where your tweets are, and not in distant destinations.</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em></p>


There should be a new proverb for Bollywood to match the times: Put your money where your tweets are. After a couple of days of raging controversies involving politicians close to the new regime in the Maldives, visibly close to the Chinese establishment, Lakshadweep is the hot new term for India's movie stars because some elite Maldivians disparaged Indians days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was clicked snorkelling at the Indian archipelago.

There should be a new proverb for Bollywood to match the times: Put your money where your tweets are. After a couple of days of raging controversies involving politicians close to the new regime in the Maldives, visibly close to the Chinese establishment, Lakshadweep is the hot new term for India's movie stars because some elite Maldivians disparaged Indians days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was clicked snorkelling at the Indian archipelago. But there's a catch somewhere, as we shall see. Everybody and his uncle in Bollywood rallied to tell the world, which essentially meant eager Indian beach lovers and out-of-the-box honeymooners thinking beyond Goa, that they should ditch the arrogant Maldivians for our desi version, Lakshadweep. As a schoolboy, I worked hard to get brownie points for remembering things like how the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindvi Islands were elegantly and Sanskritisingly renamed as Lakshadweep. But like many things south of the Vindhyas, this falls in the "Madrasi" category for affluent northerners -- something remembered vaguely and forgotten quickly. In the same 1970s that Lakshadweep got its current name, there was a famous catchphrase to explain an Indian fascination for overseas thingies: "craze for phoren". It was natural therefore that the Maldives became a preferred alternative for honeymooners and sundry beach vacationers. When not in the news for political tumult or sob stories about its vulnerability to climate change, the archipelago made merry as an attractive destination for Indian vacationers. With silver beaches, pristine waters and blue skies, Lakshadweep matches up to the Maldives, though we shall not debate infrastructure and other stuff like costs that we shall leave to the touristy analysts. But, in terms of distance, Lakshadweep, 400 km off the Kerala coast from Kochi, stands at half the 800 km you would need to fly to reach the Maldives. But there are 325 international flights every week connecting the Maldives, whose biggest chunk of tourists comes from India, compared with barely one flight a day from India to Lakshadweep (No direct flights from anywhere except Kochi, thank you!). Watch | India-Maldives Row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments, proposes Muizzu's visit to India × Presumably, it is a heady cocktail of the "craze for phoren" (visa-free at that) and great marketing by the Maldivians (and a poor counter from our own union territory) that keeps Lakshadweep a poor cousin. Suddenly, we have Bollywood's A-graders firing from their X/Twitter-loaded smartphone guns that Indians should ditch the Maldives for Lakshadweep. A casual Google search (Lakshadweep + Bollywood) assaults us with stories from the past two days listing everyone from Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan to lesser mortals extolling the virtues of Lakshadweep. Here's where the catch is. Where were Hindi cinema's famous crews all these years? Switzerland, New Zealand and god knows who else has been wooing Bollywooders to shoot in their exotic locales. We have had movies like Agent Vinod (Morocco), Chalte Chalte (Greece), and Tamasha (Corsica) joining less enchanting locales. But try finding Lakshadweep as I did, and you are likely to draw a blank unless you are a compulsive trivia collector or extra deep researcher. But where Bollywood failed, Mollywood, Kerala's own thriving film industry, has had its scenic Malayalam shots at Lakshadweep. Flush (2023), Anarkali (2015) and Mosayile Kuthira Meenukal (2014) were joined in 2018 by Sinjar, made in Lakshadweep's own Jasari language. The Maldivians are a lot luckier with Bollywood. Apart from several international movies, including one based on Salman Rushdie's Booker-winning novel 'Midnight's Children', the Maldives has witnessed location shooting for at least four Hindi commercial movies including Samundar (1986), Ek Villian (2014), Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005) and the Akshay Kumar flop Ram Setu (2022). So, Mollywood went to Lakshadweep, and Bollywood went to the Maldives. Get the picture? Perhaps it is time to tell Bollywooders: Put your money where your tweets are, and not in distant destinations. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Hypocrites of Bollywood? Hindi stars speak loud for Lakshadweep, but prefer Maldives and faraway lands

India-Maldives Row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments, proposes Muizzu's visit to India

<p>Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Internet has been talking about the beauty that was seen in the pictures PM shared. His visit also erupted in controversy after&nbsp;few politicians from Maldives passed derogatory comments on PM Modi.</p>

<p>Many B-town celebrities, such as Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan, have come in support of Lakshadweep, praising the beauty of the Indian island.</p>

<p>Joining the other celebrities, actor Ranveer Singh also went to show some love for the beauty of the Indian islands.</p>

<p>However, it appears the actor got a little confused with the blue waters as he mistakenly shared the picture of the Maldives instead of Lakshadweep.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-india-is-aatmanirbhar-amitabh-bachchan-hails-the-beauty-of-lakshadweep-amid-maldives-row-677835">Amitabh Bachchan hails the beauty of Lakshadweep amid Maldives row: India is aatmanirbhar</a></p>

<p>On Sunday, Ranveer took to X and shared a picturesque photo of the blue waters, which showed the sky view of the island.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This year let’s make 2024 about exploring India and experiencing our culture. There is so much to see and explore across the beaches and the beauty of our country<br />
<br />
Chalo India let’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/exploreindianislands?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#exploreindianislands</a><br />
<br />
Chalo bharat dekhe</p>
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/RanveerOfficial/status/1744224080520511849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sharing the photo, the actor wrote, “This year let’s make 2024 about exploring India and experiencing our culture. There is so much to see and explore across the beaches and the beauty of our country. Chalo India let’s #exploreindianislands Chalo bharat dekhe (Let's explore India).”</p>

<p>Soon after he shared the post, netizens pointed out that he had shared the wrong image.</p>

<p>Reacting to the response, the<em> Padmavat </em>actor was quick to delete the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-vir-das-takes-a-dig-at-celebrities-promoting-lakshadweep-amid-india-maldives-row-677803">Vir Das takes a dig at celebrities promoting Lakshadweep amid India-Maldives row</a></p>

<p>Correcting his mistake, Ranveer later shared another post, but without any photos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, some netizens continued to criticise the actor for the goof-up.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You are promoting Indian islands while putting a picture of Maldives.<br />
<br />
What is wrong with you, Ranveer? <a href="https://t.co/lf0VAWE2GJ">pic.twitter.com/lf0VAWE2GJ</a></p>
— Suraj Balakrishnan (@SurajBala) <a href="https://twitter.com/SurajBala/status/1744225156271362226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"So Ranveer Singh is using the pic of Maldives to boycott Maldives,'' one user wrote.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="qme">😂 <a href="https://t.co/MzXoCs3q2j">pic.twitter.com/MzXoCs3q2j</a></p>
— Abhishek Bhalerao (@mumbaiactor_) <a href="https://twitter.com/mumbaiactor_/status/1744231946920788343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>''You are promoting Indian islands while putting a picture of Maldives. What is wrong with you, Ranveer?'' wrote another user.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Posted a Maldives pic and deleted 👀 <a href="https://t.co/TYIInE1MBk">pic.twitter.com/TYIInE1MBk</a></p>
— Investment Books (Dhaval) (@InvestmentBook1) <a href="https://twitter.com/InvestmentBook1/status/1744224707807993883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Celebrities promoting domestic tourism</strong></p>

<p>On January 2, PM Modi shared a bunch of photos of him from his visit to the Union Territory of India as he went on to promote the island as the perfect tourist spot that people can choose to visit.</p>

<p>However, the controversy erupted after three Maldivian ministers made insulting remarks about PM Modi, as they deemed his post as a step to promote tourism in Lakshadweep, which may end up affecting tourism in&nbsp;the Maldives.</p>

<p>Three Maldivian ministers who made derogatory remarks against the Indian prime ministers have been suspended.</p>


Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Internet has been talking about the beauty that was seen in the pictures PM shared. His visit also erupted in controversy after few politicians from Maldives passed derogatory comments on PM Modi.

Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Internet has been talking about the beauty that was seen in the pictures PM shared. His visit also erupted in controversy after few politicians from Maldives passed derogatory comments on PM Modi. Many B-town celebrities, such as Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan, have come in support of Lakshadweep, praising the beauty of the Indian island. Joining the other celebrities, actor Ranveer Singh also went to show some love for the beauty of the Indian islands. However, it appears the actor got a little confused with the blue waters as he mistakenly shared the picture of the Maldives instead of Lakshadweep. Amitabh Bachchan hails the beauty of Lakshadweep amid Maldives row: India is aatmanirbhar On Sunday, Ranveer took to X and shared a picturesque photo of the blue waters, which showed the sky view of the island. This year let’s make 2024 about exploring India and experiencing our culture. There is so much to see and explore across the beaches and the beauty of our country Chalo India let’s #exploreindianislands Chalo bharat dekhe — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) January 8, 2024 × Sharing the photo, the actor wrote, “This year let’s make 2024 about exploring India and experiencing our culture. There is so much to see and explore across the beaches and the beauty of our country. Chalo India let’s #exploreindianislands Chalo bharat dekhe (Let's explore India).” Soon after he shared the post, netizens pointed out that he had shared the wrong image. Reacting to the response, the Padmavat actor was quick to delete the post. Vir Das takes a dig at celebrities promoting Lakshadweep amid India-Maldives row Correcting his mistake, Ranveer later shared another post, but without any photos. However, some netizens continued to criticise the actor for the goof-up. You are promoting Indian islands while putting a picture of Maldives. What is wrong with you, Ranveer? pic.twitter.com/lf0VAWE2GJ — Suraj Balakrishnan (@SurajBala) January 8, 2024 × "So Ranveer Singh is using the pic of Maldives to boycott Maldives,'' one user wrote. 😂 pic.twitter.com/MzXoCs3q2j — Abhishek Bhalerao (@mumbaiactor_) January 8, 2024 × ''You are promoting Indian islands while putting a picture of Maldives. What is wrong with you, Ranveer?'' wrote another user. Posted a Maldives pic and deleted 👀 pic.twitter.com/TYIInE1MBk — Investment Books (Dhaval) (@InvestmentBook1) January 8, 2024 × Celebrities promoting domestic tourism On January 2, PM Modi shared a bunch of photos of him from his visit to the Union Territory of India as he went on to promote the island as the perfect tourist spot that people can choose to visit. However, the controversy erupted after three Maldivian ministers made insulting remarks about PM Modi, as they deemed his post as a step to promote tourism in Lakshadweep, which may end up affecting tourism in the Maldives. Three Maldivian ministers who made derogatory remarks against the Indian prime ministers have been suspended.

Goof-up: Ranveer Singh mistakenly shares picture of Maldives while promoting Lakshadweep, netizens school him

<p>IndiGo, India’s largest domestic and international airline, has not observed any surge in the cancellations of flight tickets to Maldives by Indians over the last week, according to an airline source who spoke exclusively to WION.</p>

<p>“There is no trend at all,” the source said when asked about the reported cancellations amid the diplomatic row between India and Maldives.</p>

<p>“There are no such ticket cancellations” by Indians en masse, the source confirmed, without giving any further details.</p>

<p>IndiGo is a major service provider when it comes to non-stop flights between India and Maldives. Due to growing demand, the airline even started flights from India’s Hyderabad to Male last October.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, a representative of Vistara Airline declined to comment on the matter. “We have nothing to say on this matter as of now. We shall issue a statement if needed,” the representative told WION.</p>

<p>Later, Chief Commercial Officer of the airline, Deepak Rajawat said during a press brief that&nbsp;the Tata-owned carrier has not cancelled anything as of now and will monitor the demand for flights.</p>

<p>"The situation is very evolving right now... we will have to monitor in a week or so," he said.</p>

<p>Air India is yet to respond to WION’s query.</p>

<h2><strong>Rumours on social media</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, some unverified reports on Indian social media claimed that more than 8,000 hotel bookings and 2,500 flight tickets to the Maldives were cancelled after a top Maldivian minister allegedly abused Indian PM Narendra Modi.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Maldives suspends 3 ministers after objectionable comments against PM Modi</strong></p>

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<p>However, it is to be noted that some people had initiated online campaigns urging others to boycott the Maldives until an official apology was issued.</p>

<p>Some users on X even shared screenshots, claiming they themselves had called off their trip to Maldives.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Was planning to go to Maldives for my birthday which falls on 2nd of feb. Had almost finalised the deal with my travel agent (adding proofs below👇)<br />
But immediately cancelled it after seeing this tweet of deputy minister of Maldives. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boycottmaldives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#boycottmaldives</a> <a href="https://t.co/hd2R534bjY">pic.twitter.com/hd2R534bjY</a></p>
— Dr. Falak Joshipura (@fa_luck7) <a href="https://twitter.com/fa_luck7/status/1743538080655777937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Was planning to go to Maldives for my birthday which falls on 2nd of feb. Had almost finalised the deal with my travel agent (adding proofs below) But immediately cancelled it after seeing this tweet of deputy minister of Maldives,” one user on X said.</p>

<h2><strong>Maldives suspends three ministers</strong></h2>

<p>The Maldives government on Sunday (Jan 7) suspended three deputy ministers - Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Hassan Zihan - over their derogatory remarks made about the Indian PM.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-president-departs-for-china-amid-diplomatic-row-with-india-677741"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India</strong></a></p>

<p>Mariyam Shiuna, serving as the deputy minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art, and the spokesperson of the Male City Council, had made disparaging remarks following Indian PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep.</p>

<p>These posts, coupled with similar content shared by prominent Maldivian politicians and leaders, incited other users to post a string of racist comments directed at Indians and Indian tourists visiting the Maldives.</p>


IndiGo, India’s largest domestic and international airline, has not observed any surge in the cancellations of flight tickets to Maldives by Indians over the last week, according to an airline source who spoke exclusively to WION.

IndiGo, India’s largest domestic and international airline, has not observed any surge in the cancellations of flight tickets to Maldives by Indians over the last week, according to an airline source who spoke exclusively to WION. “There is no trend at all,” the source said when asked about the reported cancellations amid the diplomatic row between India and Maldives. “There are no such ticket cancellations” by Indians en masse, the source confirmed, without giving any further details. IndiGo is a major service provider when it comes to non-stop flights between India and Maldives. Due to growing demand, the airline even started flights from India’s Hyderabad to Male last October. Meanwhile, a representative of Vistara Airline declined to comment on the matter. “We have nothing to say on this matter as of now. We shall issue a statement if needed,” the representative told WION. Later, Chief Commercial Officer of the airline, Deepak Rajawat said during a press brief that the Tata-owned carrier has not cancelled anything as of now and will monitor the demand for flights. "The situation is very evolving right now... we will have to monitor in a week or so," he said. Air India is yet to respond to WION’s query. Rumours on social media Earlier, some unverified reports on Indian social media claimed that more than 8,000 hotel bookings and 2,500 flight tickets to the Maldives were cancelled after a top Maldivian minister allegedly abused Indian PM Narendra Modi. Watch: Maldives suspends 3 ministers after objectionable comments against PM Modi × However, it is to be noted that some people had initiated online campaigns urging others to boycott the Maldives until an official apology was issued. Some users on X even shared screenshots, claiming they themselves had called off their trip to Maldives. Was planning to go to Maldives for my birthday which falls on 2nd of feb. Had almost finalised the deal with my travel agent (adding proofs below👇) But immediately cancelled it after seeing this tweet of deputy minister of Maldives. #boycottmaldives pic.twitter.com/hd2R534bjY — Dr. Falak Joshipura (@fa_luck7) January 6, 2024 × “Was planning to go to Maldives for my birthday which falls on 2nd of feb. Had almost finalised the deal with my travel agent (adding proofs below) But immediately cancelled it after seeing this tweet of deputy minister of Maldives,” one user on X said. Maldives suspends three ministers The Maldives government on Sunday (Jan 7) suspended three deputy ministers - Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Hassan Zihan - over their derogatory remarks made about the Indian PM. Also read: Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India Mariyam Shiuna, serving as the deputy minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art, and the spokesperson of the Male City Council, had made disparaging remarks following Indian PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. These posts, coupled with similar content shared by prominent Maldivian politicians and leaders, incited other users to post a string of racist comments directed at Indians and Indian tourists visiting the Maldives.

India-Maldives row: 'Reports not true,' sources tell WION amid rumours of massive ticket cancellations

The Maldives government has suspended three Deputy Ministers over derogatory remarks made against india and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Maldives' former deputy speaker and current member of Parliament, Eva Abdulla, spoke to WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibbal.

Maldives Government must issue a formal apology to India: MP Eva Abdulla

<p>Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid dubbed the offensive remarks made on social media against the fellow Indian natives and leaders as "odious" and "reprehensible" amid the uproar of protests around a deputy minister's disparaging remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>

<p>He then called out the Maldivian government to identify the officials responsible and reprimand them.</p>

<p>The former foreign minister posted from his official X handle, "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."</p>

<p>"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," he added.</p>

<p>He further underlined that India was a 'time-tested' friend and 'unwavering' ally of the Maldives, adding that New Delhi has been the first to respond in "our time of need".</p>

<p>"Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations," he posted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His remarks came after Mariyam Shiuna, the Maldivian deputy minister for youth empowerment, made disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platform X.</p>

<p>The post shared by Shiuna, which has now been deleted, featured images of PM Modi from his recent visit to Lakshadweep.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-govt-suspends-ministers-who-made-racist-remarks-against-indians-to-target-pm-modis-lakshadweep-visit-677475">Maldives govt suspends three ministers over derogatory remarks on PM Modi</a></p>

<h2><strong>These opinions are personal, says Maldivian government</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier on Sunday, the Maldivian government, in its response to the row over the minister's remarks, said that the opinions shared were "personal" and that they do not represent its views.</p>

<p>In a statement, the government said that appropriate action would be taken against the minister at the centre of the storm. Male said it is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives," read an official release by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry.</p>

<p>The government added it believes that freedom of expression should be exercised in a "democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid dubbed the offensive remarks made on social media against the fellow Indian natives and leaders as "odious" and "reprehensible" amid the uproar of protests around a deputy minister's disparaging remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid dubbed the offensive remarks made on social media against the fellow Indian natives and leaders as "odious" and "reprehensible" amid the uproar of protests around a deputy minister's disparaging remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He then called out the Maldivian government to identify the officials responsible and reprimand them. The former foreign minister posted from his official X handle, "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." "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," he added. He further underlined that India was a 'time-tested' friend and 'unwavering' ally of the Maldives, adding that New Delhi has 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," he posted. His remarks came after Mariyam Shiuna, the Maldivian deputy minister for youth empowerment, made disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platform X. The post shared by Shiuna, which has now been deleted, featured images of PM Modi from his recent visit to Lakshadweep. Also read: Maldives govt suspends three ministers over derogatory remarks on PM Modi These opinions are personal, says Maldivian government Earlier on Sunday, the Maldivian government, in its response to the row over the minister's remarks, said that the opinions shared were "personal" and that they do not represent its views. In a statement, the government said that appropriate action would be taken against the minister at the centre of the storm. Male said it is aware of 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 Government of Maldives," read an official release by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry. The government added it believes that freedom of expression should be exercised in a "democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners". (With inputs from agencies)

‘Derogatory remarks against PM Modi odious, reprehensible,’ says ex Maldivian foreign minister

The social media is filled with 'Boycott Maldives' hashtag. Following derogatory comments by Maldivian officials about Indian PM Narendra Modi. The 3 ministers were soon suspended after their remarks drew criticism from India and abroad.

Maldives-India Row: Maldives sacks ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha & Mahzoom Majid

The Maldives government has suspended three deputy ministers for disparaging India's prime minister, an official said on Sunday, during a dip in ties with its powerful neighbour.

Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives comments row

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