New Delhi: A large number of Indian tourists claimed to have cancelled holiday trips to Maldives in response to the ‘derogatory’ remarks against PM Modi by a minster of the island nation.
The flurry of tour cancels suddenly jolted Maldives that depends largely on tourism for its revenue.
The row began after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago a few days ago.
Photos from PM Modi’s visit including him sitting leisurely on the beach and in snorkeling vest in water suddenly spurted global interest in the tourist potential of India’s Union Territory.
Many on social media portrayed the area as the potential alternative to Maldives for vacationing and holidays.
In the middle of the growing attention to the India’s island territory, a Maldives minister accused India of targeting the nation, adding, however, that India faces challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism.
Maldives minister Mariyam Shiuna, who is among three ministers suspended afterwards for their comments, called PM Modi a ‘clown’ and ‘puppet of Israel’.
Many in India reacted to the comments by posting on social media screenshots of their cancelled air travel and hotel bookings in Maldives. Alongside, there ran the top trending '#BoycottMaldives' on X in India.
Following this reaction from India, Maldives government suspended the three ministers as well as distanced itself from their comments.’
The Island nation’s former Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla on Sunday called the comments as "shameful and racist" .
Eva Abdulla apologized to India and requested Indians to end the boycott campaign against Maldives.
Abdulla, who is also a sitting MP, was quoted by NDTV as saying ‘Indians are rightfully angry. The comments made are outrageous. However, the comments are in no way a reflection of the opinion of the Maldivian people. I'd like to apologise personally to the people of India for the shameful comments made.’
After President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office of island nation in November last year, the diplomatic ties between India and the Maldives has slackened.
The new president made a departure from the previous government’s ‘India first’ approach, shifting towards China.