NEW DELHI: Ibrahim Shaheeb, the Maldives’ envoy to India, was spotted leaving the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday morning in the South Block of the capital city. This is in the midst of a controversy surrounding disparaging remarks made on social media about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep by a few Maldivian ministers. Ibrahim Shaheeb, the High Commissioner of the Maldives to India, was observed coming into the MEA office building and departing shortly after. Last week, a bitter controversy erupted when the deputy minister of the Maldives, together with several cabinet members and government officials, made derogatory and obscene remarks against Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep. When PM Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on January 2, he shared a number of photos, one of which showed him trying his hand at snorkelling, which he described as a “exhilarating experience.”PM Modi posted images of the ocean, snow-white beaches, and clear blue skies on X, captioning them with the words, “Lakshadweep has to be on your list for those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them.” The Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Shiuna, made a derogatory and sarcastic reference to Prime Minister Modi in a post that has since been removed. The government of the Maldives has disassociated itself from the statements expressed by its ministers. These comments against foreign leaders, according to Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer, are “unacceptable” and do not represent the official stance of the Maldives government.With regard to its neighbours in particular, he said, the Maldives is still dedicated to promoting a “positive and constructive dialogue” with all of its partners. “The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of the Maldives,” Moosa Zameer wrote in a post posted on X. We are still dedicated to promoting an amicable and productive communication with all of our partners, particularly our neighbours, that is founded on respect and understanding for one another.” Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Sunday that New Delhi has always been the island nation’s close buddy. Solih commented on X using his official account, saying, “I denounce the Maldivian government officials’ use of hate speech against India on social media.”He reiterated that “India has always been a good friend to the Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries.” The offensive comments made on social media against the former and other Indian locals, according to former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, are “odious” and “reprehensible.” “Derogatory remarks made by two Deputy Ministers of the current Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India in social media is reprehensible and odious,” the former foreign minister wrote on his official X handle, urging the Maldivian government to find the responsible officials and reprimand them.
A segment of the Indian film industry also publicly endorsed PM Modi and vehemently denounced the disparaging remarks made by Maldivian leaders on the nation and its leader. Additionally, they expressed agreement with PM Modi’s proposal to boost beach tourism in Lakshadweep.
