Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu made a powerful statement on Saturday in the midst of a diplomatic dispute with India. Emphasizing that Maldives may be small, he asserted that it doesn’t give anyone the right to “bully” the country.
Muizzu delivered these remarks at Velana International Airport (VIA) after completing his 5-day visit to China. The recent tension between India and Maldives revolves around offensive comments made by three Maldivian ministers about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Maldives President Muizzu Defends National Dignity
After a significant five-day state visit to China, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu returned home and emphasized that, despite being a small country, they won’t tolerate bullying.
His statement follows a diplomatic dispute with India, triggered by derogatory social media posts from three of his ministers directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, asserted the importance of not letting their size become a reason for bullying, without explicitly mentioning any specific country.
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Indians Shift Travel Plans from Maldives to Lakshadweep
The online buzz around the #BoycottMaldives movement continued as many Indians voiced their dissatisfaction with comments made against PM Modi on social media. In response, Maldives took swift action, suspending three ministers from their roles.
Despite this, a significant number of Indians decided to change their travel plans, opting to cancel trips to Maldives. Influential celebrities joined in, encouraging people to explore our beautiful islands like Lakshadweep instead.
Maldives President Highlights Vast Economic Zone
The Maldives President emphasized that the ocean is a shared resource, not owned by any particular country. Despite having small islands, the Maldives boasts an extensive exclusive economic zone covering 900,000 square kilometers, making it one of the nations with a significant stake in the ocean.
President Mohamed Muizzu highlighted that the ocean is not the exclusive property of any single country; rather, it belongs to all nations bordering it, as reported by the Times of India.
President Muizzu Asserts Maldives’ Independence
In response to comments suggesting that the Maldives is in India’s sphere of influence, President Mohamed Muizzu strongly asserted that the Maldives is an independent and sovereign state, not belonging to anyone’s backyard.
Emphasizing the principle of “non-interference” in Maldives-China relations, Muizzu criticized the previous government, stating they used to seek permission from a foreign country even for routine actions like changing chairs. Muizzu, who came to power with an “India-out” agenda, has taken steps indicating a shift towards aligning with China in the competition for dominance in the Indian Ocean Region.
India Emerges as Top Tourist Source
According to data from the Tourism Ministry in 2023, Indians made up 11.2% of the total tourists (18.42 lakhs) visiting the island nation, while Russia closely followed with an 11.1% share.
India stands out as a key market for various destinations, especially neighboring countries such as Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, as well as Dubai. Additionally, it holds a significant position among the top five markets for countries like Thailand and Singapore, as per CAPA India. The organization anticipates that more nations will soon join this list due to the rising number of Indians traveling abroad.
Also Read: Maldives Government Suspends 3 Ministers for Insulting PM Modi
Maldives President Muizzu FAQs
Q.1. What triggered the diplomatic dispute between India and Maldives?
Ans. The tension arose from offensive comments made by three Maldivian ministers about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Q.2. How did Maldives respond to the derogatory remarks against PM Modi?
Ans. Maldives swiftly suspended the three ministers from their roles to address the issue.
Q.3. What impact did the #BoycottMaldives movement have on travel plans?
Ans. Many Indians changed their travel plans, canceling trips to Maldives in response to the social media controversy.
Q.4. What did President Muizzu highlight about Maldives’ economic zone?
Ans. Despite its small size, Maldives boasts a vast exclusive economic zone covering 900,000 square kilometers, emphasizing shared resources.
Q.5. Why did President Muizzu assert Maldives’ independence?
Ans. In response to suggestions of being in India’s sphere of influence, Muizzu strongly asserted that Maldives is an independent and sovereign state.
