Maldives minister sparks row as she mocks PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit; Indians cancel trips
India-Maldives Controversy: Maldives minister sparked a row as she mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago.
PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep - the country's smallest Union Territory, which consists of 36 islands and covers an area of 32 square kilometres - was interpreted as an effort to promote tourism on the island.
In a tweet, the minister accused India of targeting the Maldives and stated that India faces significant challenges competing with the Maldives in beach tourism.
The tweet came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's posts about snorkelling in Lakshadweep went viral, prompting Indian social media users to suggest the island Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.
The ties between India and the Maldives have been strained in recent months, following the election of President Mohamed Muizzu.
Muizzu assumed the presidency in November 2023. In his election campaign, he promised to remove a small contingent of 75 Indian military personnel from his island nation and to change the Maldives' "India first" policy.
Who is President Mohamed Muizzu?
Muizzu, a pro-China politician, was sworn in as the Maldives' eighth President after defeating his India-friendly predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a presidential run-off in September.
Muizzu is scheduled to visit China on Monday, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping had invited him.
Muizzu's predecessors have previously visited India first, owing to the wide-ranging bilateral ties and the Maldives' proximity to India, followed by China, which has increased its influence in the island nation by investing in major infrastructure projects.
#BoycottMaldives
Following the controversy caused by the Maldives Minister's remarks, many people on social media have allegedly shared screenshots of their cancelled flights and hotel reservations. Furthermore, '#BoycottMaldives' is one of the top trends on X in India.