Maldives v/s Lakshadweep just got real, Indians boycott Maldives

Ever since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep, an online debate sparked, which even escalated to the extent of people boycotting Maldives."

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Let us understand the whole issue:

Where it all started?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Lakshadweep on January 2 and 3 to lay the foundation of various development projects on the island. The PM laid the foundation of projects worth INR 1,150 crore and addressed public gatherings in the archipelago.

Apart from this, the PM also enjoyed the exceptional scenic beauty of Lakshadweep and engaged in adventure sports such as snorkeling.

When the PM posted pictures of Lakshadweep on social media, netizens were left in awe of the beauty of the chain of islands. It came as a surprise to Indians who were comfortably ignoring the beauty of the Indian island and were instead heading to the Maldives for a luxurious vacation.

This sparked a debate on the internet between Indians and the people of the Maldives, both defending their countries.

The fire began in the Maldives.

One of the ministers from the government of the Maldives, Mariyam Shiuna, made derogatory comments against the Prime Minister of India. The minister called PM Modi a clown and a puppet of Israel, which invited backlash within the island nation as well as from all over India. The tweet was later deleted.

The ex-president of the island country Maldives, Mohammad Nasheed, expressed his disappointment with the statement and thus asked for correction. He took to [platform X] to say, 'What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for the Maldives’ security and prosperity.'

Maldives had to clarify

The bilateral relations between India and Maldives do not stand on good terms but are rather pretty sour due to Maldives' pro-China actions. Following the derogatory remarks by the minister, the Indian government raised the issue and expressed disappointment over the same. The Maldivian government made itself clear by stating that the opinions and views of the minister are her personal opinions and do not represent those of the Maldivian government. The statement of the Maldivian government further said, 'The government believes that freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners.'

Another Maldivian minister, Zahid Rameez, demeaned India when he replied to a tweet that called PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep a big setback for tourism in Maldives, as tourists would head to the Indian islands. The Maldivian minister called the thought delusional by saying, 'The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.

Indian celebrities in defense mode

Indian celebrities were quick to defend the country and point out the derogatory comments from the Maldives. Celebrities such as Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Kangana Ranaut, former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, John Abraham, Sachin Tendulkar, and Madhur Bhandarkar advocated for the scenic beauty of Indian beaches and also criticized the Maldivian side.

Maldivian ministers suspended

According to media reports, three Maldivian ministers have been suspended from their posts over derogatory remarks against the Indian PM. Ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid are the ones who have been suspended.

Boycott Maldives

Following the issue, India started trending the hashtag #BoycottMaldives on all social media platforms. On the other side, Indians started planning their vacations in Lakshadweep, again trending the term on the internet."

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