The Maldives government suspended three deputy ministers for making disparaging comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They criticized him for a post on “X” after he visited Lakshadweep, suggesting it was an attempt to promote Lakshadweep as a rival tourist spot to the Maldives. Famous personalities like Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar, along with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, encouraged people to explore "Indian islands" and coastal areas. Social media posts mentioned some Indians canceling their trips to the Maldives due to this disagreement.

PM Modi's Lakshadweep Visit and Online Reactions

The trouble began when PM Modi posted pictures from his Lakshadweep visit. People reacted strongly online as soon as they saw him snorkeling and enjoying the beautiful beaches. In his posts, PM Modi shared pictures of the beaches, coral reefs, and marine life, praising the traditions and spirit of the people of Lakshadweep. His Lakshadweep visit was part of his tour to South India, after visiting Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Some social media users connected PM Modi's promotion of "India's best-kept secret" in Lakshadweep with the Maldives, possibly due to the Maldivian government's growing relationship with China. India is cautious about China's involvement in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). While many talked about a possible Maldivian connection to Lakshadweep's promotion, there was no official statement from India about this link. However, some Maldivian politicians participated in online conversations, resorting to offensive language against PM Modi and Indians overall.

Controversial Remarks by Maldivian Officials

Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, used disrespectful words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "clown" and "puppet of Israel" in her posts on X. She continued with these offensive comments in multiple posts but eventually deleted them due to severe criticism. Another Maldivian MP, Zahid Rameez, joined in by belittling India, claiming that India trying to compete with the Maldives in tourism was "delusional". He made insulting remarks about India's cleanliness and said there was a "permanent smell in the rooms" there. 

These comments offended many Indians, leading to a strong online backlash. Celebrities and ordinary people united in response to these disrespectful statements.

Celebrities and Public React to Insult Against India

Famous stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar encouraged people to visit "Indian islands" and coastal areas. Ordinary Indians joined in, using hashtags like #ExploreIndianIslands and #BoycottMaldives to protest against the disrespectful comments from Maldivians.

This sparked reactions, with many reconsidering their plans to visit the Maldives due to the controversy. By Sunday, Maldivian officials and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih condemned the anti-India remarks made by Maldivian politicians.

Solih posted, "I strongly oppose the hateful words directed at #India by Maldivian officials on social media. India has always been a good friend to the Maldives, and we should not let such hurtful comments harm the long-standing friendship between our nations." Concerns grew in the Maldives over potential cancellations of bookings by Indian tourists.

Former Maldives minister Ahmed Mahloof expressed worry, saying that if Indians boycotted the tourist destination, it would significantly impact the island nation's economy.

Maldives Takes Action to Online Controversy

The online dispute took a serious turn when the Maldives took action against the controversy. On Sunday (January 7), they suspended three Maldivian lawmakers and acknowledged the disrespectful comments made on social media about foreign leaders. Along with the suspensions, the Maldivian government reportedly reprimanded those involved. This cyber-battle, ongoing for over three days, escalated into diplomatic actions on Monday (January 8).

The Indian High Commissioner met with Maldivian Foreign Ministry officials, lodging a strong protest against the remarks. Shortly after, India's External Affairs Ministry summoned the Maldivian envoy to New Delhi. The fallout from the online conflict sparked a "boycott Maldives" movement and triggered a diplomatic dispute on the ground.

India's allies in the Maldives hope the fallout won't harm the long-standing friendship between the two countries. Former President Solih, who strengthened Indo-Maldivian relations, along with PM Modi, aspire for the situation not to negatively affect their nations' historical ties.

Travel Agencies Halt Maldives Bookings

EaseMyTrip, a travel agency, has stopped arranging flights to the Maldives in support of the government amid the India-Maldives diplomatic dispute over offensive remarks made by Maldivian politicians against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Instead, the company has introduced travel deals for Lakshadweep, aiming to boost it as a tourist spot.

"Due to our support for the government, we've halted flight bookings to the Maldives, affecting around 2.4 lakh annual bookings. Last year, our bookings saw a 40% increase compared to the previous year. However, we're now focusing on promoting Lakshadweep, treating it like a top international destination. We plan to collaborate with Lakshadweep Tourism to promote this location," said a statement from EaseMyTrip. "Our new travel packages are designed to enhance the travel experience, allowing our customers to explore the enchanting beauty of Lakshadweep," the statement added.

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Impact of India-Maldives Dispute on Tourism and Economy

India was the leading source of tourists in the Maldives in 2023, with 2,09,198 visitors, followed by Russia with 2,09,146 and China with 1,87,118. India contributed to 20% of the total arrivals in November 2023 out of the 17,57,939 tourists. The tourism sector plays a vital role in the Maldivian economy, contributing a third to the GDP and generating 70% of the nation's employment.

The recent dispute involving remarks about India and PM Modi could damage the strong ties between the two countries. It's important to note that PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit had no relation to the Maldives. If a boycott happens, it could severely impact the Maldives' tourism sector and its overall economy.

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