Eva Abdulla, the former Deputy Speaker of Maldives, expressed to NDTV that the remarks made were discriminatory, referring to them as “racist”. She further acknowledged that Indians had a valid reason to be upset. Additionally, Mariya Didi, the former Defence Minister, commended the strong defense relations between Maldives and India.
New Delhi: Ali Azim, a member of parliament from Maldives, has demanded the removal of President Mohamed Muizzu amidst the escalating controversy surrounding his critical remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Another parliamentarian, Meekail Naseem, has urged the Parliament to interrogate Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer.
Here are the top 10 points in this big story:
- Mr. Azim, a member of The Democrats, who separated from the party last year, has called for “all appropriate measures to be taken to oust President Muizzu from his position” and has urged the MDP, the largest opposition party, to “initiate a vote of no-confidence”. Meanwhile, his colleague, Mr. Naseem, has formally asked Parliament to summon the Foreign Minister due to their lack of action regarding derogatory remarks made against PM Modi.
- Opposition legislators are intensifying their criticisms of President Muizzu in anticipation of the upcoming general elections this year. Mariya Ahmed Didi, the leader of the MDP and former Defense Minister, strongly criticized the ruling party for its lack of foresight in potentially damaging a long-standing relationship and referred to India as our emergency hotline. She emphasized that prioritizing India has always been our policy.
- Ahmed Mahloof, the former Youth and Sports Minister and another prominent figure in the MDP, expressed concerns about the potential consequences for the Maldivian economy if the current trend of Indian tourists boycotting the country persists. He emphasized the significant impact this could have and expressed his deep worry, stating that the recovery process would be challenging.
- Following reports of mass cancellations by Indian tourists, who are the leading foreign arrivals in the Maldives in the post-Covid era, Mr Mahloof’s red-flag has been raised. These tourists contribute significantly to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and job creation. The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry, the largest industry body in the country, strongly criticized the “derogatory comments” aimed at PM Modi.
- In the meantime, Abdulla Mausoom, the former Tourism Minister, made a plea to the Indian population to overlook the statements made by any minister, regardless of their rank, and implored his government to acknowledge the Maldives’ dependence on tourism and the significant contribution of Indian tourists to its economy.
- Former President Ibrahim Solih and ex-Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid, two prominent senior politicians from the Maldives, have also expressed their disapproval of the remarks. They strongly condemned the utilization of “hateful language” and described the comments as “reprehensible” towards India. Eva Abdulla, the former Deputy Speaker, expressed her view that the comments were not only “racist” but also acknowledged that Indians have every right to be rightfully angry.
- President Muizzu’s administration deemed the remarks as “unacceptable,” while Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer affirmed on X that the governing party remains dedicated to cultivating a productive conversation with all our allies, particularly our neighboring nations. The suspension of three ministers, namely Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, has been implemented.
- The controversy ensued following PM Modi’s sharing of videos and images endorsing the tourism sector in Lakshadweep. A Twitter trend, labeled #BoycottMaldives, gained momentum, fueled in part by posts from Bollywood stars and cricketers, resulting in a significant surge of interest in the union territory.
- India’s reaction has been calculated; the Maldives envoy was summoned by New Delhi only on Monday, several days after the dispute, and neither the Prime Minister nor the Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, have made any public declarations thus far. Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel informed NDTV that the remarks “questioned” India’s honor, but he dismissed any discussion of a public apology.
- The strained relations between India and the Maldives have been highlighted by the critical comments directed towards Mr. Modi. These tensions have arisen since the election of President Muizzu, who is perceived as a pro-China leader and recently concluded a State visit to China on January 12. Upon his arrival, President Muizzu expressed his admiration for Beijing, referring to them as a “valued ally.” While the Chinese government has not issued an official response, the state-run Global Times acknowledged the existence of a “friendly and cooperative relationship” with the Maldives.