Akshay Kumar REACTS To Maldives Minister's Remarks Against India: 'Why Should We Tolerate Hate?'

Akshay Kumar has strongly condemned the derogatory remarks against India that were made by leading public figures of the Island nation Maldives. The unsavoury comments went viral on social media after PM Narendra Modi visited the Lakshadweep Islands. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Akshay Kumar shared screenshots of some of the comments made against India.

He wrote, “Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists.”

He added, “We are good to our neighbors 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.”

For the unversed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Lakshadweep in the first week of January to inaugurate the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection and lay the foundation stone for the renovation of primary healthcare facility and five model Anganwadi centres. Following his trip, a social media post by a Maldives minister had ignited the controversy.

Maldives minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid claimed India is shifting focus from the Maldives by promoting Lakshadweep as another tourist spot. Majid went on to remark that India faced significant challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism. This row comes amid strained ties between the two countries following President Mohamed Muizzu’s ascent to power in November last year.

Not only Akshay Kumar but other actors like Salman Khan, John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, and others have also come forward to promote Island tourism in India. Social media platforms, especially X, are abuzz with the ‘ExploreIndianIslands’ hashtag as netizens are expressing their outrage and urging everyone to plan their holidays in Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.