Male, Jan 7: The Maldivian government took action on Sunday by suspending three ministers for making derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to his visit to Lakshadweep. The suspended ministers, Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha, and Hassan Zihan, faced consequences for their comments made on social media platform X.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit aimed at promoting Lakshadweep as a tourist destination triggered criticism from the Maldivian ministers. In a now-deleted post on X, Shiuna referred to Modi as a “clown and puppet of Israel,” while Malsha used mocking emojis in sharing Modi’s video. The comments sparked a backlash on social media, with Indian users expressing discontent.
The Maldivian foreign ministry issued a statement distancing itself from the derogatory remarks, clarifying that such opinions are personal and do not represent the government’s views. An official from the President’s Office confirmed the suspensions without providing further details.
The incident highlights the impact of social media in diplomatic matters and underscores the importance of maintaining diplomatic decorum in public statements.
