India expressed alarm on Sunday at the recent “derogatory” comments made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Mariyam Shiuna, the deputy minister of youth empowerment in the Maldives.
According to the sources, the Indian High Commissioner in Male has brought up the issue with the Maldivian authorities. This happened as the administration of Maldives President Muhammad Muizzu disassociated itself from the statements made by one of its ministers.
“Clown” and “Puppet”: Maldives Minister’s Modi Slur Shakes Bilateral Ties – What You Need to Know
India expressed alarm on Sunday at the recent “derogatory” comments made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Mariyam Shiuna, the deputy minister of youth empowerment in the Maldives. According to the sources, the Indian High Commissioner in Male has brought up the issue with the Maldivian authorities. This happened as the administration of Maldives President Muhammad Muizzu disassociated itself from the statements made by one of its ministers.
“The administration thinks that the right to free speech should be used democratically, responsibly, and in a way that doesn’t incite hatred or harm the close ties between the Maldives and other countries,” the Maldives government statement continued.
The statement said, “The appropriate government authorities will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks.”
India-Maldives row: Top Points
1. A massive row erupted between India and Maldives after a minister of the island country made some derogatory remarks against PM Modi over his recent visit to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
2. Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna used words like ‘clown’ and ‘puppet’ for the Prime Minister of India.
3. The derogatory remarks sparked huge outrage in India with people calling for boycotting traveling to Maldives for its anti-India stand.
4. As the noise around the matter grew, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed slammed the remarks of the Maldivian minister and hailed India as a “key ally” for the security and prosperity of the archipelago nation.
5. “What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for the Maldives’ security and prosperity,” Mohamed Nasheed said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
6. “The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect government policy (sic),” the former president added.
7. The newly-elected government of Mohammad Muizzu distanced itself from the remarks of its minister on Sunday and said the relevant authorities “will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks.”
8. India raised concerns over the remarks against the Indian Prime Minister and diplomatic channels are communicating India’s position with the officials of Maldives.
9. The development comes as Mohammad Muizzu led his election campaign on an anti-India plank and the relations between the two nations tanked since his election as the President of the country.
10. The new government of Maldives is closely aligning itself with the Arab world as Mohammad Muizzu’s first international trip was to Turkey- a nation known for its anti-India views.
Maldivian politicians respond to the India-Maldives spat
Mariyam Shiuna’s comments caused a stir in the Maldives’ domestic political circles, with former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih denouncing the use of “hateful” language against India. “I denounce the Maldivian government officials’ use of derogatory rhetoric against India on social media. “We must not allow such insensitive remarks to negatively impact the long-standing friendship between our two countries. India has always been a good friend to the Maldives,” Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated.
Maldives minister Mariyam Shiuna, who has now been suspended following major controversy, called PM Modi a “clown” and “puppet” in now-deleted posts on X after the Prime Minister posted pictures of his visit to Lakshadweep.
In a now-deleted post, Abdulla Mahzoom Majid said, “While I wish success for India’s tourism, targeting the Maldives so explicitly isn’t diplomatic. India faces significant challenges competing in beach tourism, considering our resort infrastructure exceeds their total islands.”
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