The government of the Maldives has taken disciplinary action against three deputy ministers for their disparaging comments directed at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, serving in roles within the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts, were suspended following their remarks, as confirmed by a senior government official to Reuters on Sunday.
The three had variously described Modi as a “clown”, “terrorist” and “puppet of Israel” on social media platform X, in response to a video of promoting tourism in Lakshadweep, an Indian Union territory in the Arabian Sea.
Indian media reports revealed that the Indian High Commission in the Maldives addressed the matter with the Maldivian government regarding the derogatory remarks made by Maldives officials.
Additionally, various Indian celebrities, including Bollywood actors and sports stars, expressed their dissatisfaction with the comments made by the Maldivian officials.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged its awareness of derogatory comments circulating on social media platforms targeting foreign leaders and prominent individuals.
“These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives,” the statement said.
