Lakshadweep vs Maldives controversy: The dispute has resulted in a noteworthy proportion of Indian tourists scrapping their vacation arrangements
Where it originated
On January 5, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared captivating images from his visit to Lakshadweep, revealing in the scenic beaches and exquisite locales. Despite the apparent enjoyment depicted in these beautiful snapshots, the post has stirred controversy on the international front. India faces the prospect of strained relations with the Maldives, triggered by promotional posts encouraging Indian tourism that conspicuously omitted any mention of tourism in foreign nations.
The controversy erupted when Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid, three deputy ministers in the Maldives’ Ministry of Youth Affairs, made derogatory comments about India and the Prime Minister following his recent visit to Lakshadweep. Shiuna brought up India’s connections with Israel on X. Subsequently, her colleagues chimed in, suggesting that the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Lakshadweep aimed to undermine Maldivian tourism, renowned for its beachside attractions. Before long, social media was inundated with xenophobic, racist, and hostile posts directed at India
ubsequently, several Maldivian news websites specializing in local news published sensational headlines in the local dialect, alleging that India had initiated a campaign against Maldivian tourism. This narrative quickly gained traction among other Maldivian social media users, who joined the bandwagon by making derogatory comments and insults targeting India and Indians. Additionally, comparisons between the Maldives and the Lakshadweep islands became a common theme.
“The initiative is commendable, but the notion of competing with us is unrealistic. How can they match the level of service we provide? Their cleanliness standards are questionable, and the persistent room odor will be their major drawback,” remarked Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives and a Senate member.
Flight Operations to Maldives Halted as Celebrities Rally Behind Lakshadweep
In response to the derisive comments about the Maldives, some Indian social media users pledged to avoid vacationing there and advocated for a boycott of Maldivian hotels and resorts. The travel portal EaseMyTrip also took a stand by suspending all flight bookings to the Maldives. Notable Indian figures from the realms of entertainment, sports, and business, including Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, Pooja Hegde, Madhur Bhandarkar, PV Sindhu, Shilpa Shetty, Varun Dhawan, and Kunal Bahl, the co-founder of Snapdeal, have shared their travel aspirations, expressing a keen interest in visiting Lakshadweep.
Government calls in ambassador
On Monday, the Maldivian ambassador to India was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs, where strong concerns were expressed regarding social media remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by several ministers from the Maldives. In response, Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer emphasized that such comments against foreign leaders are deemed “unacceptable” and do not represent the official stance of the Maldivian government.
It is so cool to see our Hon PM Narendrabhai Modi at the beautiful clean n stunning beaches of Lakshadweep, and the best part is that yeh hamare India mein hain.
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) January 7, 2024