NEW DELHI: Calls to boycott Maldives as a tourism destination for Indians grew on Sunday after some politicians in the island nation made racist posts on X in reaction to a tweet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein he shared pictures of his visit to Lakshadweep.

Clearly irked by the amount of global attention Lakshadweep has gotten since the post by PM Modi, Maldivian politician Zahid Rameez, a council member of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), mocked the PM’s visit and said India would never be able to compete with Maldives in regards to tourism.”The move [promoting Lakshadweep] is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer?,” said Rameez.
Despite facing widespread criticism on social media platforms, Rameez, has so far rejected any calls to tender an apology.
Besides Rameez, Maldivian minister Mariyam Shiuna also used derogatory language against PM Modi. She has since deleted her post on X.
Maldives govt distances itself from remarks
Under immense pressure to set the record straight and assure India, the Maldives government, led by pro-China leader Mohamed Muizzu, on Sunday distanced itself from the derogatory remarks made by Shiuna and other leaders.
In a statement, the government said the “opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives”.
“The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners,” the Maldives government statement added.
“The relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks,” the statement added.
Former prez tries to put out fire
Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed condemned the local leaders for their derogatory remarks and said such language was “appalling”, adding that India is a “key ally” for the security and prosperity of the archipelago nation.

“What appalling language by Maldives government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for the Maldives’ security and prosperity. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect government policy (sic),” the Maldives’ first democratically-elected President, Nasheed, wrote on X.
Maldives reliant on Indian tourism
The anti-India comments by some prominent Maldivians on X have prompted several Indian celebrities and social media influencers to call for a boycott of the Maldives and its tourist spots.

Actor Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar, cricketer Aakash Chopra and others appealed to Indians to cancel trips to Maldives in the wake of recent comments by the Maldives’ leaders.

Indian tourists made up a large chunk of visitors to the Maldives till December 2023.
According to the Maldives tourism ministry, a total of 1,757,939 tourists arrived in the island nation till December 13, an increase of 12.6% compared to the 1.5 million arrivals recorded in 2022.
The largest number of tourists who visited the Maldives were from India (2,09,198), followed by Russia (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).
In the October-December quarter of 2021, 1.15 lakh passengers travelled between India and Maldives on direct flights — this translates to nearly 1,250 passengers a day each way between India and Maldives.
Tensions rising
Diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives have been strained after a political shift in the country towards China.

The newly elected president, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the PPM, is perceived as being highly pro-Beijing and he has promised to change Maldives’ ‘India-first’ policy.
Muizzu has already requested India to withdraw its military forces from the Maldives, a move conveyed to Union minister Kiren Rijiju during his visit for the president’s inauguration ceremony in November.
First visit to China
Muizzu is scheduled to visit China on Monday on the invitation by president Xi Jinping, the Chinese foreign ministry recently said in a statement.
Muizzu’s predecessors had always visited India first, considering the wide-ranging bilateral ties and the Maldives’ proximity to India, followed by China which has expanded its influence in the island nation by investing in major infrastructure projects there.
The new Maldives vice president Hussain Mohamed Latheef last month visited China, his first visit abroad, and took part in the China-sponsored China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation in Kunming.

Watch ‘Boycott Maldives’ trends | Maldives MP sparks furore by downplaying Lakshadweep, days after PM Modi’s visit