Maldives Minister's Social Media Post Over PM Modi's Lakshadweep Visit Stirs Row; Indians Cancel Trips En Masse

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep, a social media post by a Maldives minister has ignited a controversy. PM Modi last week went snorkelling and shared his “exhilarating experience” of the islands in the Arabian Sea.

Thinking PM Modi’s visit aims to boost Indian islands, Maldives minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid claims India is shifting focus from the Maldives by promoting Lakshadweep as another tourist spot.

Majid went on to remark that India faces 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.

Muizzu, from the Progressive Alliance – a coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), is considered pro-China. His opponent former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had good ties with New Delhi and the bilateral relations progressed between the two nations under Solih’s rule.

Won’t Hesitate To Take Action: Maldives On Controversial Posts

The Government of Maldives has distanced itself from derogatory remarks made by its ministers and leaders of the ruling party against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The ‘opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives’, an official statement issued by Male on Sunday said.

The government asserted that it believes freedom of expression should be “exercised in a democratic and responsible manner” and said that relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks.

Maldives Suspends 3 Ministers

The Maldives government has reportedly suspended three of its ministers for their derogatory remarks on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid the Lakshadweep vs Maldives row.

The ministers suspended include Hassan Zihan, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport and Civil, Mariyam Shiuna – Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts and Malsha, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, as per Maldives local media.

PM Modi’s Lakshadweep Visit

Prime Minister 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.

After his visit, PM Modi said the government’s focus in Lakshadweep was to uplift lives through enhanced development. “Lakshadweep is not just a group of islands; it’s a timeless legacy of traditions and a testament to the spirit of its people. My visit has been an enriching journey of learning and growing,” Modi said.

Many Indians have reportedly canceled their trips to the Maldives for Lakshadweep after the PM posted pictures of the beaches on social media. What seems to have triggered the ‘Boycott Maldives’ cry on social media is some ministers of the island country shaming Lakshadweep after many saw it as an alternative to Maldives.

Dr. Falak Joshipura, the sports physiotherapist, was planning a trip to the Maldives on her birthday on February 2. She had almost finalized the Amaya Kuda Rah resort for the celebrations, but she has now canceled the trip. This decision came after she claimed to have seen purported tweets from Maldives’ Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs, Abdullah Mazoom Majid.

She isn’t alone. Askshit Singh, shared his cancellation details on X where he booked his stay at Madifushu Private Island from March 31 to April 2. He too indicated that he will visit Lakshadweep instead.

Rushik Rawal is a filmmaker who had a three-week booking worth Rs 5 lakh from February 1, 2024 at Palms Retreat, Fulhadhoo, Maldives. He too cancelled his booking in the Maldivian luxury property and attributed ‘racism’ by their ministers as the reason. He also called to boycott the Maldives.

Deeptanshu Shukla is a men’s rights activist who was planning a trip to Maldives as well like many Indians who constitute a chunk of their foreign visitors. The IITian who is a regular to the island nation cancelled his bookings at another luxury resort whose details he shared as evidence on social media. He reminded that “Indians aren’t low spenders” while saying he has had enough.

Another fellow IIT graduate and now an NRI Amit who lives in Zurich also cancelled his trip to Maldives where he has scheduled to stay at Royal Island Resort at Baa Atoll Biosphere reserve. “We were coming from the UK to India for family reasons and were planning to go to Maldives from there. Not anymore,” he said.

There are several Indians who have cancelled their bookings in the last 24 to 48 hours. One such Indian (‘Dash Can Indians’, who has cancelled his trip to Maldives, took to X to say, “It makes no sense to spend heavy money for an excursion to a country where they hate our country India”.

In 2021 and 2022, India continued as Maldives’ top market with over 2.91 lakh and 2.41 lakh Indian tourist arrivals. These figures are quite high considering that Covid-19 was at its peak in 2021. Last year, India with 100,915 tourist arrivals (until June 13, 2023) remained a sought-after market for Maldives.

But now with ‘Boycott Maldives’ cry and slew of hotel cancellations, Maldives is facing the ire.