The controversy surrounding the anti-India remarks made by Maldivian Ministers continues to stir up turmoil, refusing to dissipate despite the Maldives Government’s swift action to suspend three accused Ministers. The escalating situation now poses a threat to the tenure of the recently elected President, who is perceived as aligning with China. The Opposition in the island nation is actively pursuing the removal of the President.
Maldives MP Ali Azim, a member of the Democrats, which broke away last year, has called for Mohamed Muizzu to be sacked as President and asked the MDP — the largest Opposition party — to “initiate a vote of no-confidence”.
Furthermore, a second MP, Meekail Naseem, has urged Parliament to question Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer regarding ‘derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.’
Opposition lawmakers are intensifying their attacks on Muizzu ahead of the general elections this year. MDP leader and former Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi criticised the ruling party for its “short-sightedness” in potentially alienating an “age-old relationship” and referred to India as “our 911 call”. She emphasised, “We have always had an India-first policy.”
Meanewhile, Maldives’ top tourism body has strongly condemned the derogatory comments made by some Deputy Ministers of the country against Prime Minister Modi after he visited Lakshadweep.
“The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry condemns the derogatory comments made by Ministers on social media, directed towards Modi as well as the people of India,” MATI said in a statement.
According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry statistics, over 17 lakh tourists visited the island nation in 2023, out of which more than 2,09,198 visitors were Indians followed by Russians (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).
On the other hand Muizzu on Tuesday appealed to China to “intensify” efforts to send more tourists to his country.
