Three Maldivian officials mocked Modi for trying to attract tourists to India’s Lakshadweep island.
Social media is one of the main sources of controversy due to its ability to quickly spread information around the world, where one image could create chaos across nations, especially if shared by a prominent figure.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently posted photos of himself on X, formerly known as Twitter, snorkeling and walking on a beach in Lakshadweep, an island chain in southern India.
While praising the beauty of the Indian island, three Maldivian officials mocked Modi for his intentions to attract tourists to the lesser-known archipelago instead of the Maldives. cnn reported.
Officials responded to Modi’s post, describing him as a “clown,” “terrorist” and a “puppet of Israel,” according to Reutersalthough he did not mention Maldives in his post.
A senior Maldivian official said Reuters that the island government acted quickly to distance itself from his comments, suspending the three officials, deputy ministers of the Ministry of Youth Employment, Information and the Arts.
In a statement, the Maldives government said it was aware of “derogatory” comments made on social media, but stressed that “the opinions are personal” and do not represent its views.
“The government believes that freedom of expression must be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in a manner that does not spread hatred, negativity and hinder close relations between the Maldives and its international partners,” he said.
The controversy comes as Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, embarks on a five-day visit to China, his first visit as president after winning the election.
Muizzu, who has vowed to end his predecessor’s “India first” policy, is expected to meet Chinese officials and sign agreements to enhance business, professional and socio-economic development during a trip.
However, the Indian Ocean archipelago, home to around half a million people, cannot afford to distance itself from its closest neighbour.
The Maldives relies heavily on tourism, with India bringing the largest group of tourists. In 2023, Indian tourists made more than 209,000 trips to the island, representing 11% of its tourism market.
However, the officials’ comments have angered some Indian tourists, who canceled their trips to the island chain using the hashtag “#BoycottMaldives”.
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