Maldivian ministers have made derogatory remarks about the Indian PM, sparking an international row. People began to boycott Maldives in January 2024, due to the officials’ mocking of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This occurred after Modi posted pictures of himself enjoying a holiday in Lakshadweep, praising its beauty. The Maldives officials responded by calling Modi an economic “terrorist”, a “clown” and a “puppet of Israel.” These remarks led Indian tourists to cancel their trips to the Maldives and to post proof of it along with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives. The Maldives foreign ministry released a statement distancing itself from the comments, stating that the opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government. Narendra Modi has been in power since 2014 and tensions between India and Maldives have increased since President Mohamed Muizzu’s election, during which he pledged to remove Indian troops and form closer ties with China.
What is causing the trend of ‘boycott Maldives’?
