Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar, Salman Khan and more; Maldives-Lakshadweep row heats up

Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces a deluge of criticism and accusations daily but it has hitherto failed to affect the BJP's top leader in any way. It looks like PM Modi loves receiving such criticism from all quarters which will give him enough leeway to rail back at them with double force. However, something different happened last week as Maldives, the small archipelago that lies southwest of the Indian sub-continent caught itself in an unsolicited tussle with India for just one tweet from the Indian Prime Minister. Maldivian MPs came with racist slurs that were tantamount to insulting India.

Three ministers of Maldives insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi such that India had to issue a condemning note through diplomatic channels. Maldives has been in the process of turning into China loyalists in recent times. However, the small island has always been a close Indian ally and the Indian troops stationed at the archipelago talk thousands about the bonhomie.

PM Modi’s sudden visit to Lakshadweep was what started the conundrum in the social media platform. Mariam Shiuna, Minister of State for Youth Empowerment of the Maldives called Modi a puppet of Israel and derided the Indian PM on social media platform X. The tweet turned viral and morphed into a controversy that Shiuna might have never foreseen. In a bid to placate the Indian officials, Maldives suspended all three ministers who hurled abuse on social media against the Indian leader.

The ministers withdrew the posts after the former President of Maldives, Mohammad Nasheed, came forward lamenting the petulance shown by the ministers. The former president might have gauged the rising dominance of the new India, which towers in reputation and is turning into a formidable force among world leaders. India summoned the Maldives High Commissioner and expressed its displeasure.

The immature remarks of the three ministers of the Maldives have also hurt the country's tourism sector. Tourism is the main source of income for the Maldives. A big chunk of this lucre comes from India as most have chosen Maldives as the perfect getaway spot and the inflow of tourists to the small island nation has been only seeing a spike in recent times. Popular names like Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar, Salman Khan and John Abraham have suddenly asked Indians to explore Lakshadweep, which is seen as an approval to the trending hashtag #BoycottMaldives.

Maldives acted quickly and suspended the three ministers as they deemed it would affect their sprawling tourism sector. The criticisms of the Ministers stemmed from the assumption and fear that Modi's visit to Lakshadweep would boost tourism in Lakshadweep and this could adversely affect tourism in neighbouring Maldives.

Relations with India have started to falter since Mohamed Muizzu became the President of Maldives. The new president is making moves to have closer ties with China. The President is using the 'anti-India' move as a card to attract huge Chinese investments to Maldives.

History is replete on how countries that favoured financial assistance from China, later plunged into bankruptcy. China which highly invested in Sri Lanka never showed up when the country fought an unprecedented economic crisis. It was India who administered help to Sri Lanka providing financial assistance and medicine for the people. Maldives will have to consider their Indian allegiance or can opt for China if they wish to emulate Sri Lanka. President Muizzu will have to do some work to shipshape his office.