Maldives Faces Tourism Boycott Following Officials' Insults to India's PM
Modi
Maldives is confronting a potential
tourism boycott from a significant source of income after three officials
mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This sparked widespread calls from
Indian citizens and celebrities encouraging a shift to domestic beaches over
the sun-kissed Maldivian getaway.
The controversy unfolded when Modi shared
images on social platform X, showcasing himself snorkeling and strolling along
a beach in Lakshadweep, a southern Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea,
off the coast of Kerala. While Modi didn't mention Maldives in his post, his
enthusiastic praise for the picturesque scenery of the lesser-known archipelago
may have been interpreted as an attempt to divert vacationers from Maldives.
In response, three Maldivian officials
referred to Modi as a "clown," "terrorist," and a
"puppet of Israel," as reported by Reuters. Swift action was taken by
the Maldives government, suspending the three officials - deputy ministers
within the Ministry of Youth Employment, Information, and Arts, according to a
senior Maldivian official.
The Maldivian government, in a statement, distanced itself from the derogatory comments made on social media, clarifying that these opinions are personal and do not reflect the country's official stance. The government emphasized the importance of exercising freedom of expression in a democratic and responsible manner, avoiding the spread of hatred and negativity that could hinder the close relationships between Maldives and its international partners.
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