Maldives Faces Backlash With #BoycottMaldives Trend, Over 8,000 Hotel Cancellations

Maldives has been on the receiving end of a lot of flak, both from Indian citizens, public figures and companies, as well as individuals and governments of other countries. #BoycottMaldives has been trending on social media platforms, clocking in at over 5,000 posts on X. Multiple reservations made to the island nation have also been cancelled in rapid succession, with industry estimates putting the number of hotel booking cancellations in the last two days at over 8,000, with more expected to follow.

But what is the reason behind the sudden backlash aimed at Maldives?

Narendra Modi’s Post And The Reactions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Lakshadweep islands on 2-3 January, which garnered significant media attention from across the world.

After the photos of the PM’s visit were posted on Instagram promoting tourism to the island, three deputy ministers of Maldives, namely Malsha Shareef, Abdulla Mahzoom Majid and Mariyam Shiuna, mocked the PM, calling him names such as “clown” and “puppet of Israel”

Reactions
Following the comments, the three deputy ministers along with the entire country of Maldives drew major criticism from citizens, public figures and companies of other countries. EaseMyTrip, the online travel agency, announced that it would be suspending all flights to the island nation. Confirming the move to a leading media house, Prashanti Pitti, Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip, stated that they have suspended Maldives flight bookings in support of the government, adding that 2.4 lakh annual bookings made through the platform have been impacted.

Celebrities such as Akshay Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar and Ranveer Singh have also come out in support of the government and promotion of local tourism.

The Maldivian High Commissioner in Delhi was also summoned by Ministry of External Affairs over the comments. “Our High Commission in Maldives had strongly raised and expressed concerns about the comments made in regard to the prime minister by certain ministers in the Maldives government with the foreign office today,” an MEA official said.

What Happened To The Ministers?
The three deputy ministers were quick to delete any trace of their comments from their social media accounts, however, they were all suspended soon after the comments were made public. The government of Maldives also distanced itself from the views of the three suspended deputy ministers.

The Maldives government, in an official statement, refrained from mentioning Modi or the suspended ministers directly. However, it emphasised the importance of exercising freedom of expression in a democratic and responsible manner, avoiding the spread of hatred and negativity. The statement highlighted the need to maintain positive relationships between the Maldives and its international partners and warned of potential actions against individuals making derogatory remarks.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed expressed his views on the issue, condemning Shiuna for her appalling language against the leader of a “key ally, that’s instrumental for Maldives’ security and prosperity.”

It is worth noting that the controversy arises amid strained relations between the two countries, fuelled by the new president, Mohamed Muizzu’s apparent efforts to curtail defence ties with India. Additionally, as part of Male’s outreach to China, Muizzu is set to embark on a six-day visit to Beijing, marking a departure from tradition. Muizzu becomes the first Maldivian president to forgo an initial visit to India upon assuming office and is also the first to prioritise a trip to China before Delhi.