Maldives Suspends Ministers Over Remarks Against Modi

MALE, (IANS) – The pro-China Maldivian government on January 7 suspended its three ministers for remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Lakshadweep visit, local media reported.

The ministers — Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha and Hassan Zihan — have been suspended for their derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi on X, Atoll Times reported.

Though Prime Minister Modi promoted Lakshadweep as a tourist destination and did not even mention the Maldives, irked minister of the Island country said: “India faces significant challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism.”

In the post, Shiuna shared a video and referred to Prime Minister Modi as a “clown and puppet of Israel”. Malsha also shared Modi’s video on X using mocking emoji.

The post was deleted after backlash on X, where Indian social media users slammed the Maldivian government officials, including Shiuna.

In a statement, the Maldivian foreign ministry said it was aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals.

“These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, on January 8 Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed arrived in China on a five-day state visit.

Muizzu and his wife are on a state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is the first bilateral visit since assuming office on December 17 last year.

In a post shared on X, Maldives President’s Office stated, “H.E. President Dr @MMuizzu and H.E. First Lady Sajidha Mohamed have arrived in Xiamen, in China’s Fujian province, today on a state visit to China. This visit is at the invitation of the President of China, H.E. Xi Jinping.”

Diplomatic ties between the Maldives and China were established on October 14, 1972. Since then, China and the Maldives have actively engaged in fostering strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. In 2007, Maldives opened an embassy in Beijing.