New Delhi: The Maldives authorities on Sunday suspended three of its ministers for posting derogatory and offensive remarks towards 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 expertise, 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 bunch 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.
One of them, Mariyam Shiuna, deputy minister of homeland safety and expertise, 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. Another deputy minister, Zahid Rameez, from the ruling Progressive Party 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 very sad that a big country like India is trying to make money by copying a small economy like Sri Lanka.” Two extra deputy ministers, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid, joined the refrain of criticism towards Modi.
The Maldives authorities issued an announcement distancing itself from the tweets and calling them “personal opinions” of the ministers. It additionally warned that it’s going to not hesitate to take motion towards 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 well-liked 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 international locations, 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 below Yameen’s authoritarian rule.
Mariyam Shiuna is the deputy minister on the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art. Shiuna can be the spokesperson of the Male City 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.
