Former Maldives minister Ahmed Mahloof expressed concern about potential economic consequences for the island nation if Indians decide to boycott it as a tourist destination. The statement came in response to the #BoycottMaldives hashtag trending on social media following derogatory remarks made by Maldives leaders against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mahloof conveyed his worry about the "escalating situation" involving "racist comments" by some Maldives leaders against Indians and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that an Indian boycott could significantly impact the Maldives' economy, making recovery challenging. Mahloof urged the government to take swift and serious action to address the issue.
As a former minister, he apologized for the racist comments made by some Maldivians and affirmed that India would always remain the Maldives' closest neighbor. He extended a welcome to Indians, stating they are always embraced in the island nation.
In response to the controversial remarks made by Maldives ministers against PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit, the Maldives government suspended three ministers: Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid. The suspension decision followed India raising the matter with the Maldives. The government clarified that the derogatory remarks did not reflect its views and were considered personal opinions.
Mariyam Shiuna, in now-deleted posts on X (formerly Twitter), had called PM Modi a "clown" and "puppet," leading to a backlash. Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, in another deleted post, commented on PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit, expressing concern about India explicitly targeting the Maldives. The government's response involved suspending the ministers and rejecting the offensive remarks as personal opinions not representing the Maldivian government's stance.
