New Delhi: The suspended minister of the Maldives has issued an apology following her social media post targeting the opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which featured a symbol resembling Ashok Chakra, leading to a controversy. “I wish to address a recent social media post of mine that has attracted attention and criticism. I offer my deepest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post,” Mariyam Shiuna, a member of the same party as Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, stated on X today. “I was made aware that the image used in my response to the Maldivian opposition party MDP bore a resemblance to the Indian flag. I want to clarify that this was completely unintentional, and I deeply regret any misunderstanding it may have caused,” she further explained.
The former minister expressed the deep value that Maldives places on its relationship and the mutual respect shared with India. Moving forward, the former minister stated their intention to be more vigilant in verifying the content they share to avoid such oversights.
Ms Shiuna’s post, which replaced a compass on an MDP poster with a symbol resembling the Ashok Chakra, came at a time of diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives following President Muizzu’s assumption of power. President Muizzu has been advocating for the withdrawal of around 80 Indian troops stationed in the Maldives for humanitarian services. Additionally, his tenure has witnessed the Maldives’ efforts to strengthen ties with China. After visiting Beijing and meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Muizzu stated, without naming any specific country, that “We may be small, but this doesn’t give them the license to bully us.” This remark was interpreted as a veiled criticism of India.
As elections draw near, the Maldives President has adopted a conciliatory approach and affirmed that India will remain the country’s “closest ally.” He has also appealed to New Delhi for debt relief, as the Maldives owes approximately $400.9 million to India by the end of 2023.
Given this context, the suspended minister’s now-deleted comment seems to have placed the People’s National Congress in a difficult position.
This is not the first time Ms Shiuna has attracted attention for her remarks concerning India. Previously, her comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep had elicited a strong response from former Maldives president, Mohamed Nasheed.
“Maldives government official Mariyam Shiuna’s use of such offensive language towards the leader of a crucial ally, who plays a vital role in the security and prosperity of the Maldives, is deeply concerning. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and provide India with a clear assurance that they do not reflect the government’s policy,” Mr Nasheed had stated at that time.
Following that, Ms Shiuna and two additional individuals were relieved of their duties as ministers.