Maldives suspends three deputy ministers for insulting PM Modi

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Maldives suspends three deputy ministers
  • Three deputy ministers of Maldives have been suspended for making derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
  • The ministers are Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Sharif, and Mahzoom Majeed. They mocked PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep Islands and his promotion of tourism there.
  • The Maldives government, led by pro-China leader Mohammed Muizzu, has distanced itself from the ministers’ statements and said they do not represent the views of the government.
  • Former Maldivian presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Mohammed Nasheed have condemned the ministers’ language and praised India as a key ally and a good friend of Maldives.

The ministers’ remarks

The controversy started when PM Modi posted pictures on ‘X’ of exploring life under the sea during his visit to Lakshadweep Islands on January 2 and 3, 2023. He wrote, “For those who want a thrilling experience, Lakshadweep should definitely be on their list. During my stay, I also tried snorkeling. What an exhilarating experience it was!”

The pictures drew the ire of some Maldivian politicians and government officials, who saw them as a challenge to their own tourism industry. Maldivian politician and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) council member Zahid Rameez mocked PM Modi’s visit and said India will never be able to compete with Maldives in terms of tourism. Rameez said, “This step (promoting Lakshadweep) is very good. However, the idea of competing with us is misleading. How can they provide the service we provide?”

Apart from Rameez, three deputy ministers of Maldives also used derogatory language against PM Modi on social media. They are Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Sharif, and Mahzoom Majeed. They made comments such as “Lol”, “Hahaha” and “Lmao” on PM Modi’s pictures. Shiuna later deleted her post on ‘X’.

The government’s response

The Maldives government, led by pro-China leader Mohammed Muizzu, was quick to distance itself from the ministers’ statements and said they do not represent the views of the government. The government issued a statement on Sunday, saying, “Opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives.”

“The government believes that freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in a manner that does not spread hatred, negativity or hinder close relations between the Maldives and international partners,” the statement said. “The government authorities concerned will not hesitate to take action against those making such derogatory remarks,” the statement added.

The government also announced the suspension of the three deputy ministers for their misconduct. Local media ‘Adhadhoo’, quoting a top government source, reported the suspension on Sunday. However, the media house initially misidentified one of the suspended ministers as Hassan Jihan, who denied the report and called it ‘fake news’. The media house later corrected the report and named Mahzoom Majeed as the third suspended minister.

The former presidents’ reactions

Former Maldivian presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Mohammed Nasheed also expressed their displeasure over the ministers’ remarks and condemned their language. They took to Twitter to voice their support for India and PM Modi.

Solih wrote, “I condemn the use of hateful language against India by Maldivian government officials on social media. India has always been a good friend of Maldives and we should not allow such harsh comments to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries.”

Maldives suspends three deputy ministers

Nasheed wrote, “What appalling language Maldivian government official Mariam Shiuna has used towards the leader of a key ally who is vital to the security and prosperity of the Maldives. The Mohammed Muizzu government should distance itself from these comments and give a clear assurance to India that they do not reflect on the government.”

Nasheed also noted that Maldives is one of India’s major maritime neighbors in the Indian Ocean region and the previous government of Maldives had signed several agreements with India to enhance cooperation in various fields. He said that Maldives should not jeopardize its ties with India over petty issues.

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