The Maldivian government conveyed to India’s High Commissioner, Munu Muhawar, during a pre-scheduled meeting that the derogatory comments made by three now-suspended deputy ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not represent its official views. Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, conveyed this message during the meeting, emphasizing Maldives’ continued support for India.
“High Commissioner Munu Mahawar had a pre-arranged meeting with H.E. Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, Ambassador at Large, at MoFA, Maldives, today to discuss bilateral issues,” the Indian High Commission posted on X.
The meeting was part of pre-arranged discussions on bilateral issues. A senior Maldivian official stated that Naseer clarified during the meeting that the offensive remarks made by the deputy ministers do not reflect the views of the Maldivian government. The Maldives’ Foreign Ministry, addressing the issue of derogatory remarks on social media against foreign leaders, stressed that these are personal opinions and do not reflect the government’s position.
This development followed India summoning Maldivian envoy Ibrahim Shaheeb to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and expressing strong concerns over the offensive remarks made on social media by several ministers from the Maldives, including Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid. The three deputy ministers at the Youth Ministry were suspended after making derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the X social media platform, in response to a video promoting tourism in Lakshadweep.
As reported earlier in Financial Express Online, official sources said the Indian high commission in Male strongly raised the matter with the Maldivian foreign ministry on Sunday.
The incident drew criticism in India, with various celebrities urging people to explore domestic tourist destinations instead of visiting the Maldives. Social media posts also claimed that some Indians were cancelling their trips to the Maldives following the diplomatic row.
The Maldivian Foreign Ministry released a statement acknowledging the derogatory remarks on social media and clarifying that these opinions are personal and do not represent the official views of the government. Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih condemned the use of hateful language against India by Maldivian government officials on social media, emphasizing the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
India-Maldives-Indian Ocean Region
In 2023, India called for collaborative efforts to address common challenges faced by the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including sustainable exploitation of maritime resources and climate change.
During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the Maldives, discussions with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih focused on strengthening defence and security ties. Singh handed over two “Made in India” platforms – a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship – to the Maldives National Defence Forces, symbolizing the shared commitment to peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region.
Singh highlighted the importance of collaboration among regional players for the stability, peace, and prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region, emphasizing that the region’s peace and security are best secured through cooperation. The minister identified sustainable exploitation of maritime resources and climate change as significant challenges, calling for joint efforts to ensure the peaceful utilization of the Indian Ocean’s resources for regional prosperity.
According to experts, “This diplomatic incident serves as a reminder of the delicate nature of international relations, where personal remarks on social media can have significant repercussions. It underscores the importance of maintaining a respectful tone in official discourse and the need for countries to address such issues promptly to prevent strains in diplomatic ties.”