Wikipedia

2024 India–Maldives diplomatic row

For overall relationship between India & Maldives, see India–Maldives relations.

In January 2024, relations between India and Maldives, traditionally close neighbors with strong historical and cultural ties, became strained due to derogatory remarks by Maldivian cabinet ministers and concerns over racism, targeted towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as India.[1]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) meeting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu (left) at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference

Reactions in India called for a boycott of vacations to the Maldives. The row from Maldives side led to the death of a young Maldivian teenager who had to be taken to India via an air ambulance, after the request at the last minute was denied by Maldivian authorities due to the tensions between the two countries.[2][3]

Background edit

 
Bathala island in the Maldives

The 2023 Maldivian presidential election saw Mohamed Muizzu come into power. A key campaign topic throughout the election was the Maldives' position with respect to China and India. The incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih campaigned on an "India-first" policy, aiming to strengthen ties with the Maldives' geographical and cultural neighbour. On the opposite side, Muizzu, adopting the slogan "India out", called for Indian military personnel stationed on the archipelago to leave,[4][5][6] while campaigning for closer relations with China.[7] This kept in line with the policies of former president Abdulla Yameen, founder of the People's National Congress, under whom the Maldives joined China's Belt and Road Initiative.[8]

Muizzu was elected president in the second round, winning 54.04% against the incumbent Solih's 46.04%. Muizzu was sworn in as the new president on 17 November 2023.[9][10] President Xi Jinping of China welcomed this election,[11][12] while Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi congratulated Muizzu and conveyed his "good wishes for the strengthening of democracy, peace and prosperity in the country."[13]

Derogatory remarks edit

 
Kadmat Island, Lakshwadeep

In January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshwadeep, a union territory of India in the Indian Ocean, and posted his pictures of an island in Lakshwadeep on his Instagram account, in the Indian Government's bid to boost tourism and carry out development there.[14] This prompted many Indians to search and take an interest on the islands.[15] Many Indian users on social media began comparing Maldives, an attractive tourist destination for many Indians with their own domestic islands in Lakshwadeep.[16][17] In response, Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives, accused the Indian Government of "copying a small economy like Sri Lanka", triggering an online boycott of Maldivian tourism.[18] He sparked further controversy by tweeting that India would be "delusional" to offer decent service and clean rooms as compared to Maldives.[19]

On 7 January, three sitting Maldivian deputy ministers - Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, made derogatory and racist remarks about PM Modi and Indians on social media, coinciding with his visit.[20][21] The remarks triggered strong reactions in India, with the Indian High Commission in Maldives raising the issue strongly with the Maldivian government.[22] The Maldivian government, under President Mohamed Muizzu, swiftly distanced itself from the comments, suspending the three ministers and emphasizing that their opinions did not reflect the official stance.[23] On 7 January, the Maldivian government issued a statement condemning the derogatory remarks.[24] The statement clarified that these opinions are personal and do not reflect the official stance of the Maldivian government. The statement reaffirmed the government's commitment to freedom of expression exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, emphasizing it should not hinder close relations with India.[25] Additionally, the statement indicated that relevant authorities may take action against individuals making such remarks.[26]

On April , Mariyam Shiuna, one of the suspended Minister made a mocking twitter post on Indian flag. Following uproar over the post, she apologized.[27]

Reaction edit

India edit

The remarks by the Maldivian ministers led to a massive outrage in India, with many people who had planned vacations in the island country cancelling them. The hashtag "#BoycottMaldives" was trending on Social Media.[28]

Opposition leader and politician Sharad Pawar said "He is the Prime Minister of our country and if anyone from any other country holding any position makes such comments on our PM, we won't accept it. We must respect the PM's post. We won't accept anything against the Prime Minister from outside the country"[29]

Maldives edit

Former President Mohamed Nasheed stated, "The people of the Maldives are sorry, we are sorry that this has happened". He also said that the Maldives wants Indian people to visit during their holidays, and that this will not affect the country's hospitality. He asked the government to stop the row against India.[30]

Rise in Tensions edit

 
Muizzu (left) meeting Xi Jinping in January 2024

On 7 January, Muizzu arrived in China on an invitation extended by President Xi Jinping.[31] as a China-pro candidate Muizzu's presidential campaign focused on reducing Indian influence in Maldivian affairs. Observers have described him as pro-China.[32][33][34] On 13 January, in the interview after coming back from China, Muizzu said,

We, our country maybe small. But that doesn't give you the license to bully us![35][36]

In pre-office interviews, Muizzu stated that all Indian troops should leave the Maldives. As of 2021, the Maldivian Defence Ministry reported around 75 Indian personnel were stationed in the country, operating aircraft provided by India.

Following a state visit to China, Muizzu requested India to withdraw its troops by 15 March, linking the conflict to the sovereignty of the Maldives. He perceives India's failure to withdraw its troops as a lack of respect for Maldives' democracy. After the second India-Maldives high-level core group meeting, Male announced that India will replace its military personnel involved in the operation of its base in the Maldives. India only stated that both sides agreed on a set of "Mutually Workable Solutions."[37]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ ""Indians Rightfully Angry": Maldives MP Amid Row Over Ministers' Remarks". NDTV.com. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  2. ^ Biswas, Sayantani. "Maldives teen dies waiting for air ambulance, minister blames President Muizzu's 'animosity' towards India". Mint.
  3. ^ Gupta, Adarsh Kumar. "Sick Maldivian teen dies after President Mohammed Muizzu refused India's plane services: Report". Hindustan Times.
  4. ^ Ethirajan, Anbarasan (22 October 2022). "Mohamed Muizzu: The Maldives' new president wants India out". BBC News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Mohamed Muizzu: The Maldives' new president wants India out". Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Told Indian envoy 'every single Indian military personnel should be removed': Maldives Prez-elect Muizzu". Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu wins Maldives presidency, upending relationship with India". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 30 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Maldives election: Pro-China candidate Muizzu wins presidency". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  9. ^ Masood, Mohamed Iyad (2 October 2023). "Preparations underway for Muizzu to be sworn in on November 17". Sun. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  10. ^ "President-elect to be sworn in at 1645hrs on November 17". PSM News. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. ^ "China's President Xi Jinping Congratulates Maldivian President-Elect Dr. Muizzu". Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  12. ^ "1st LD Writethru: Xi congratulates Muizzu on election as Maldives president-Xinhua". Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  13. ^ Modi, Narendra [@narendramodi] (1 October 2023). "Congratulations and greetings to @MMuizzu on being elected as President of the Maldives" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Prime Minister Modi visits Lakshadweep, highlights decade of development in Islands". The Hindu. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Global search interest in Lakshadweep peaks to a 20-year high after PM Modi's visi". The Times of India. 8 January 2024.
  16. ^ Singh, Vikrant (6 January 2024). "Maldives jittery as 'Lakshadweep' remains top trend in India for second consecutive day". WION.
  17. ^ Banerjee, Anindya; Thirumalai, Nitya (5 January 2024). "Did PM Modi Just Checkmate Hostile Maldives? Google Searches for Lakshadweep Skyrocket". News18.
  18. ^ Abbas, Ajmal (7 January 2024). "Maldivian leader mocks PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit, remarks spark row". India Today News Desk. India Today.
  19. ^ "'How can they be so clean?': Maldives politician after PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep". Livemint. Mint. 7 January 2024.
  20. ^ Bhaumik, Anirban. "Maldives suspends 3 deputy ministers after India raises issue of derogatory remarks against PM Modi". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  21. ^ "India summons Maldives envoy over ministers' remarks". 8 January 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  22. ^ "'Opinions personal': Maldives warns leaders over social media attacks on PM Modi". India Today. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  23. ^ Pandey, Ashish (8 January 2024). ""Shameful, Racist": Maldives MP Condemns Ministers' Remark On India, PM Modi – Times of Viral". Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  24. ^ "HT's full coverage of Maldives row: PM Modi's tweet, ministers' remarks and more". Hindustan Times. 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Maldives govt suspends 3 ministers over racist remarks against PM Modi for Lakshadweep post: Reports". The Times of India. 8 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  26. ^ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (7 January 2024). "Maldives suspends three Deputy Ministers as India raises issue of disrespectful remarks against PM". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Maldives Minister Regrets Disparaging Post 'Mocking' Indian National Flag's Ashok Chakra". News18. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  28. ^ Singh Rawat, Sudeep (8 January 2024). "Boycott Maldives trends on X, here are the celebrities who joined campaign". Business Standard.
  29. ^ "Sharad Pawar defends Modi". APB News.
  30. ^ Mishra, Samiran (9 March 2024). ""People Of Maldives Are Sorry": Ex President Nasheed Amid Row With India". NDTV.
  31. ^ "The President and First Lady to make a state visit to China". The Presidents Office. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  32. ^ Macan-Markar, Marwaan (1 October 2023). "Maldives' Muizzu marches to victory on anti-India drumbeat". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  33. ^ "Who is Mohamed Muizzu, Maldives's pro-China president-elect?". Al Jazeera. 1 October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu wins Maldives presidency, upending relationship with India". The Guardian. AFP. 1 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  35. ^ "Interview after H.E. president's official visit to China". YouTube (Video). Presidents office, Maldives. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  36. ^ "We maybe small. But that doesn't give you the license to bully us". The Presidents Office, Maldives. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  37. ^ Tiwari, Vaibhav (5 February 2024). "Indian forces to leave Maldives by May 10, Mohamed Muizzu tells parliament". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
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