The Maldives authorities suspended three deputy ministers on Sunday after they mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
Three officers from the Youth Ministry had referred to as Modi a “clown,” a “terrorist,” and a “puppet of Israel” on social media platform X, previously generally known as Twitter.
The President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, has ordered an investigation and suspended the deputy ministers pending the end result.
“The federal government of Maldives is conscious of derogatory remarks on social media platforms in opposition to international leaders and excessive rating people,” the federal government mentioned in an announcement.
“These opinions are private and don’t symbolize the views of the federal government of Maldives.”
What prompted the web posts?
The three deputy ministers criticized Modi in response to a publish through which he shared photographs from the “pristine seashores” of India’s tropical Lakshadweep islands, some 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of the Maldives.
Some seen Modi’s publish as attempting to attract guests away from the Maldives.
The nation of 1,192 low-lying islands depends on tourism for a 3rd of its economic system. Indians make up the most important group of worldwide guests.
Muizzu gained an election final yr with a pledge to desert the Maldives’ “India first” coverage in a area the place New Delhi and Beijing vie for affect.
He additionally pledged to take away a small contingent of Indian troops stationed on the archipelago.
Nevertheless, he has toned down his anti-India rhetoric since coming to energy. Sources advised the AFP information company that the Maldives authorities was involved about potential repercussions from the posts about Modi.
zc/lo (Reuters, AFP, AP)
