Why #Boycott Maldives is trending on X ?

The Maldivian envoy to India was on January 8 summoned to the External Affairs Ministry and was conveyed strong concern over remarks posted on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a number of ministers of the Maldives, PTI reported, quoting sources.

ANI reported that Maldives Envoy to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb, was seen leaving the Ministry of External Affairs on January 8 morning. The Maldives High Commissioner was seen arriving at the MEA office building and leaving a short while later, the agency reported.

This comes amid a row over derogatory social media remarks by some ministers in the Maldives Government on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep. On January 2, he visited the Union Territory and shared several pictures, including one of him trying his hand at snorkelling. In a post on X, he said, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”

‘Unacceptable’, says Maldives Government

In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi. The Maldives Government has distanced itself from the remarks made by its ministers.

The government of the Maldives suspended three Deputy Ministers for derogatory social media posts against Mr. Modi on Jan. 7. According to Maldivian media reports, Deputy Ministers in the Youth Ministry, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, were suspended over their posts. They criticised Mr. Modi for his post on X following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

The Maldivian Foreign Ministry said the government is aware of “derogatory remarks” on social media platforms against foreign leaders and that the personal views do not represent its position. “The government of Maldives 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,” the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Jan. 7.

Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer said that these remarks against foreign leaders are “unacceptable” and do not reflect the official position of the Maldives government. He stated that the Maldives remains committed to fostering a “positive and constructive dialogue” with all its partners, particularly its neighbours.