The Maldives government released a statement on Sunday distancing itself from the derogatory comments made by its minister, Mariyam Shiuna, against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that these remarks do not reflect the official stance of the Maldivian government. The statement emphasized that such opinions expressed on social media platforms are personal and urged for the exercise of freedom of expression democratically and responsibly, without spreading negativity or hindering international relationships.
The government further stressed its commitment to maintaining close relationships with international partners, and authorities would not hesitate to take action against those making derogatory remarks. The controversy emerged after Maldivian politicians, including Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna, mocked Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep, with Shiuna referring to him as a 'clown' and 'puppet of Israel' in now-deleted posts on X (formerly known as Twitter). The tweets were removed following backlash.
Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, also ridiculed the beaches of Lakshadweep and questioned the quality of services provided by India's Union Territory. The comments led to widespread outrage, and reports suggested a significant number of hotel bookings and flight tickets to the Maldives were canceled in response.
The Indian government expressed strong objections to the derogatory remarks, and the Indian High Commissioner raised the matter with the government of Mohamed Muizzu in the Maldives.
