Beginning in early 2024, Indians on social media began calling for a boycott of the Maldives, a small island nation 2,142 kilometers from India. Reason: By making derogatory and racially disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India, three ministers from the Maldives offended India.
The Maldives, a popular travel destination that draws visitors from all over the world, including India, hurried to contain the damage on Sunday and distanced itself from the statements made by Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, Malsha Shareef, and Mariyam Shiuna.
Just one day before Maldivian president Mohammad Muizzu departs for Beijing to get funding, these three ministers were suspended after many hours. In November of last year, Muizzu became president by running for office on a platform of driving out the Indian armed forces from the Maldives.
During the COP28 summit in Dubai last month, Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with the president of the Maldives. A core group was to be established by both nations in order to fortify their collaboration.
Maldives has always had the support of India, both in good and terrible times. Following the island nation’s independence in 1965, New Delhi was among the first to recognize it and to establish diplomatic ties.
India moved quickly to assist the Maldives in foiling Abdullah Luthufi’s coup attempt in 1988. India carried out an operation known as “Operation Cactus” to neutralize the coup that was supported by the militant Sri Lankan group Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
