The government of the Maldives took action on Sunday, suspending three ministers for making derogatory comments about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The controversial remarks, which triggered the hashtag 'Boycott Maldives,' resulted in the suspension of Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid.
The Maldives government, responding to the uproar, issued a statement condemning the insulting social media posts towards neighboring India. The foreign ministry emphasized that those in government positions making such comments have been suspended from their roles.
Minister Shiuna's deleted tweet used derogatory emojis to describe PM Modi, while Shareef shared Modi's video with derisive emojis. Zahid Rameez, a Maldivian politician, mocked India's tourism capabilities, stating that the idea of competing with the Maldives was delusional.
Under pressure to address the situation and assure India, the Maldives government distanced itself from the offensive remarks, emphasizing that the opinions expressed were personal and did not reflect the government's views.
Former Maldivian presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Mohamed Nasheed, along with ex-foreign minister Abdulla Shahid, condemned the hateful language used by local leaders. They stressed the importance of preserving the long-standing friendship between India and the Maldives.
The anti-India comments prompted Indian celebrities and influencers to call for a boycott of the Maldives, with social media flooded with posts canceling Maldives trips. Notable figures such as Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Aakash Chopra urged Indians to choose domestic destinations instead.