New Delhi: The Maldives authorities on Sunday suspended three of its ministers for posting derogatory and offensive remarks in opposition to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The ministers are Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid, who maintain portfolios of homeland safety and know-how, training, and youth empowerment, data and humanities respectively.
The suspension got here after India expressed its concern over the tweets, which mocked PM Modi’s go to to the Lakshadweep islands and derogatory feedback.
A gaggle of deputy ministers from the Maldives sparked outrage on social media after they made insulting feedback about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who shared an image of himself snorkelling throughout his latest journey to Lakshadweep.
Certainly one of them, Mariyam Shiuna, deputy minister of homeland safety and know-how, referred to as Modi a “clown” and referred to him as “the puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with life jacket” in a publish that he later deleted.
The incident triggered a backlash from many Indians, who urged to boycott the Maldives, a neighbouring island nation that’s solely 70 nautical miles away from Lakshadweep. One other deputy minister, Zahid Rameez, from the ruling Progressive Social gathering of Maldives, additionally took a dig at Modi’s go to to Lakshadweep, which was aimed toward boosting tourism within the Union territory.
Rameez wrote on Friday: “It is extremely unhappy {that a} massive nation like India is attempting to generate profits by copying a small financial system like Sri Lanka.” Two extra deputy ministers, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid, joined the refrain of criticism in opposition to Modi.
The Maldives authorities issued a press release distancing itself from the tweets and calling them “private opinions” of the ministers. It additionally warned that it’s going to not hesitate to take motion in opposition to anybody who violates the code of conduct and ethics of public officers.
The tweets have sparked outrage amongst Indians, who’ve cancelled their trip plans to the Maldives, a preferred vacationer vacation spot. Many have additionally referred to as for a boycott of Maldivian services and products. The incident has strained the bilateral relations between the 2 nations, which have been shut allies and companions within the Indian Ocean area.
Who Are The Three Suspended Ministers?
The suspended ministers are among the many 72 deputy ministers appointed by President Mohamed Muizzu, who took workplace in November 2023 after defeating former President Abdulla Yameen in a historic election. President Muizzu has vowed to revive democracy, human rights and good governance within the Maldives, which had suffered underneath Yameen’s authoritarian rule.
Mariyam Shiuna is the deputy minister on the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Data, and Artwork. Shiuna can be the spokesperson of the Male Metropolis Council.
Malsha Shareef can be a deputy youth minister of the Maldives Ministry of youth empowerment, data and humanities.
Mahzoom Majid is the deputy minister of youth empowerment, data and humanities.
