In January 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared photographs to endorse tourism in the Indian archipelago of Lakshadweep on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Three deputy ministers from the Maldives, including Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid, said disrespectful remarks about India and Prime Minister Modi on social media as a reaction. The posts contained phrases such as "clown," "terrorist," and "puppet of Israel."
Escalation and Impact:
The remarks incited intense anger and prompted demands for a boycott of the Maldives on Indian social media platforms. The hashtag #BoycottMaldives gained significant traction.
The online travel portal EaseMyTrip has temporarily halted flight reservations to the Maldives.
Maldivian politicians expressed strong disapproval of the ministers' comments and temporarily removed them from their positions. The foreign ministry additionally released a statement to elucidate that the comments did not accurately represent the official position of the government.
Inherent conflicts:
This incident took place within an already tense relationship between the two nations.
Mohamed Muizzu, the newly elected president of Maldives, has shown a strong inclination towards China, which has sparked concerns regarding India's strategic dominance in the Indian Ocean region.
India's provision of financial aid for development and its military deployment in the Maldives have occasionally caused disagreements.
Present condition:
Although the suspension of the ministers and their official apologies temporarily appeased the initial anger, the online boycott campaign persists.
The overarching conflict between India and the Maldives has not been entirely resolved.
This episode underscores the susceptibility of bilateral ties to social media outbursts and emphasises the necessity for proactive communication between governments.
Supplementary aspects:
The potential economic consequences for the Maldives are still to be determined, given that India plays a significant role in generating tourism income.
Several observers perceive the incident as an opportunity for both nations to participate in transparent communication and restore confidence.
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