
New Delhi: Tensions between India and Maldives are escalating rapidly since Maldivian Minister Mariyam Shiuna made crude remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a now-deleted X post.
Following Shizua’s derogatory words for the PM, Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate also ignited the controversy by belittling PM Modi’s efforts to promote Lakshadweep Tourism in his recent Twitter (X) post.
In his outrageous post, Rameez ranted about Maldives’ beauty and claimed that India’s Lakshadweep doesn’t stand a chance against his country when it comes to tourism.
He wrote, “The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.”
The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall. 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/AzWMkcxdcf
— Zahid Rameez (@xahidcreator) January 5, 2024
Netizens calls for boycotting Maldives
Rameez and Mariyam Shiuna’s nasty digs at PM Modi are now attracting heavy backlash from the Indian people, sportspersons & celebs who are now calling for boycotting Maldives as their tourist destination on various social media platforms.
While several netizens are canceling their scheduled trip to Maldives, others are urging the tourists to explore the hidden treasure of India Lakshadweep which is indeed a perfect alternative to the island country.
In an attempt to prove Lakshdweep’s supremacy over the Maldives, many are also sharing enchanting & mesmerizing pictures and videos from the hidden archipelago of 36 islands that stand tall against the Island country in terms of natural beauty.
Dropping several breathtaking videos of Lakshdweep’s natural beauty, one user wrote, “This is not Maldives This is India This is our beautiful Lakshwadeep.”
This is not Maldives
This is India 🇮🇳📍
This is our beautiful Lakshwadeep 🏖️🌊We welcome all the tourists of the world to our Lakshadweep .🏞️🏄♂️
Promote India tourism. #BycottMaldives #Lakshadweep #Maldivians #IndiaSupportEaseMyTrip #Indian #LakshadweepTourism pic.twitter.com/Tjc7d30hwZ
— वैभव (@krishna01o) January 8, 2024
Another person also shared a clip of captivating Lakshadweep beaches and wrote “We welcome all the tourists of the world to our Lakshadweep. Promote India tourism.”
We welcome all the tourists of the world to our Lakshadweep .🏞️🏄♂️
Promote India tourism.#BycottMaldives #Lakshadweep #Maldivians #IndiaSupportEaseMyTrip #Indian #LakshadweepTourism pic.twitter.com/9j6TGaqoVp
— Anil MS Gautam (@realgautam3) January 8, 2024
A third one hailed Lakshadweep over Maldives saying, ‘Why should we Indians go to the Maldives when we have Lakshadweep It is more beautiful than the Maldives”
Why should we Indians go to the Maldives when we have Lakshadweep It is more beautiful than the Maldives.
Say No To Maldives 🚫#BoycottMaldives#BycottMaldives #Maldivians #HeavyRain #IndiaSupportEaseMyTrip #BilkisBano #HBDManikSaha #TeJran pic.twitter.com/oLxFKHYlwr— 🦋 KOMAL SINGH🦋 💯 Follow Back (@KOMAL_SINGH7) January 8, 2024
More reactions here:
Lakshadweep and Maldives in next 10 years:#ExploreIndianIslands pic.twitter.com/2RYPd6OPj8
— Amit Thakur 🇮🇳 (@Amit_Thakur_BJP) January 7, 2024
Say no to Maldives pic.twitter.com/SvScEhkxZi
— The Random Guy (@RandomTheGuy_) January 7, 2024
Government of India plans to Develop Agatti Airport into a world-class international facility to boost tourism in Lakshadweep#LakshadweepIsParadise #LakshadweepTourism #ExploreIndianIsland #ExploreIndianIslands #Lakshdweep #Maldives #Maldivians #BycottMaldives #indiaSupport pic.twitter.com/mrBdsfSdE4
— ☆ᏀUFᏒȺƝ ☆™️🫶 (@IAMGUFRAN_) January 8, 2024
This is not #Maldives , this is #goldenbeach_puri one of the beautiful tourism destination of #IndianTourism. Book and enjoy your holiday.@PMOIndia @tourismgoi @CMO_Odisha @Puri_Official @JagannathaDhaam @odisha_tourism #ExploreIndianIslands #ExploreIncredibleIndia pic.twitter.com/uhxCwXdHL5
— RAKESH🇮🇳 (@Raksethy) January 8, 2024
Indian Celebrities hail Lakshadweep’s beauty
Besides the commoners, several Indian celebs and sportspersons also condemned Maldivian ministers’ shameful comments about Lakshadweep & PM Modi and urged the public to support the local tourism industry by turning Lakshadweep into their next go-to destination.
250+ days since we rang in my 50th birthday in Sindhudurg!
The coastal town offered everything we wanted, and more. Gorgeous locations combined with wonderful hospitality left us with a treasure trove of memories.
India is blessed with beautiful coastlines and pristine… pic.twitter.com/DUCM0NmNCz
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 7, 2024
Smell?? Permanent smell?? What!!! Suffering from massive Muslim phobia, even though belonging to the same community. Lakshadweep consists of 98 percent of Muslim population, this prominent public figure from Maldives calling them smelly and lowly is rather racist and uninformed.… pic.twitter.com/hLbQvD5RYD
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 7, 2024
Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists.
We are good to our neighbors but
why should we tolerate such… pic.twitter.com/DXRqkQFguN— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 7, 2024
Viru paji .. this is so relevant and in the right spirit of our land .. our own are the very best .. I have been to Lakshadweep and Andamans and they are such astonishingly beautiful locations .. stunning waters beaches and the underwater experience is simply unbelievable ..
हम… https://t.co/NM400eJAbm— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 8, 2024
Whether it be the beautiful beaches of Udupi , Paradise Beach in Pondi, Neil and Havelock in Andaman, and many other beautiful beaches throughout our country, there are so many unexplored places in Bharat which have so much potential with some infrastructure support. Bharat is… pic.twitter.com/w8EheuIEUD
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 7, 2024