- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameer, who on January 8 accompanied president Mohamed Muizzu to China, got into the damage control after a massive row erupted.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FOLLOWING the derogatory remarks made by some Maldivian ministers against Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and India on social media following his recent visit to Lakshadweep, Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameer said that these remarks against foreign leaders are “unacceptable” and do not reflect the official position of the Maldives government.
He stated that the Maldives remains committed to fostering a “positive and constructive dialogue” with all its partners, particularly its neighbours.
In a post on X, Zameer said, “The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of #Maldives. We remain committed to fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with all our partners, especially our neighbours, based on mutual respect and understanding.”
Read: Indian travel agency suspends Maldives flight bookings over posts against Modi
The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of #Maldives.
We remain committed to fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with all our partners, especially our neighbours,…
— Moosa Zameer (@MoosaZameer) January 7, 2024
Zameer on Monday (8) accompanied Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu, who took office last November, to a state visit to China. Muizzu is seen by many observers as a pro-Beijing leader and fears the Indian Ocean archipelago would tilt towards China under his rule. Muizzu asked India to withdraw its troops from its soil to which New Delhi reportedly agreed.
A massive uproar erupted after a Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging and unsavoury references to Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep.
On January 2, the Indian prime minister visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and shared several pictures, including an ‘exhilarating experience’ of him trying his hand at snorkelling.
In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches, the pristine blue skies and the ocean and tagged them with a message that read, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”
In a post that has now been deleted, Maldivian deputy minister of youth empowerment Mariyam Shiuna made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi over his visit to the Indian island cluster. Her post even featured images of Modi from his visit to Lakshadweep.
A section of India’s film fraternity, too, came out in support of PM Modi and strongly criticised the derogatory remarks by Maldivian leaders against the country and its leader. They also voiced support for the Indian leader’s call for promoting beach tourism in Lakshadweep.
Former Maldivian presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who lost to Muizzu in the last elections, and Mohamed Nasheed, condemned the language used by the government officials against India’s top leadership.
While Solih condemned the “hateful language” saying India has always been a good friend of the Maldives, Nasheed urged the Muizzu government to distance itself from the comments and prove that they do not reflect the government’s policy. He also called the language “appalling”.
On Sunday, former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih condemned the use of ‘hateful language’ against India by government officials on social media, saying New Delhi has always been a good friend to the island nation.
Former Maldivian foreign minister Abdullah Shahid said the objectionable remarks against the former and fellow Indian natives on social media are ‘reprehensible’ and ‘odious’.
The Maldivian government later said that three ministers were suspended over the remarks.
