After India, Now Maldives Summons Indian High Commissioner Amid Row Over Anti-PM Modi Posts

Maldives high commissioner Ibrahim Shaheeb on Monday visited the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi’s south block after a summon was sent to him by the authorities.

Following Shaheeb’s summon, now Indian High Commissioner, Munu Mahawar, to Maldives has been asked to reach the Maldives foreign ministry at 12:30 pm. The high commissioner’s official handle on X, however, posted that “Mahawar had a pre-arranged meeting with H.E. Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, Ambassador at Large, at MoFA, Maldives, to discuss bilateral issues.

This comes a day after the Lakshadweep island’s pictures shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi set off a social media war between India and Maldives, while also triggering a low-key diplomatic row between the two.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the Lakshadweep island last week for promoting infrastructural development and tourism there. However, he probably might not have anticipated such a harsh and rather uncharacteristic reaction from the Maldives.

Following the Indian prime minister’s post on the microblogging site X, a row erupted on social media, amid which some leaders in the Maldives made derogatory remarks against PM Modi.

The Maldivian government — while distancing itself from the “derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals — suspended three of its government officials whose comments on X sparked the row to begin with.

In his post, PM Modi had said that the was in “awe of the stunning beauty” of the islands and the “incredible warmth” of its people. However, nowhere in his post, did he even make the mention of the Maldives.

What Were Maldives Officials’ Remarks On PM Narendra Modi?

The social media war, rather began after a senior minister in President Mohamed Muizzu’s government — Abdulla Mahzoom Majid — accused India of targeting the Maldives. He had said that India faces significant challenges in competing with the islands when it comes to beach tourism.

Although Majid deleted his tweet afterwards, but the war had already begun.

Several derogatory remarks were also targeted at PM Modi. In fact, Maldives’ deputy minister of youth empowerment, information and arts — Mariyam Shiuna — called PM Modi a “clown” and “puppet of Israel” in a post on X. She deleted the post later and was also suspended by the Maldivian government.

Former Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih condemned the use of “hateful language” against India. “India has always been a good friend to Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age old friendship between our two countries,” Solih said in a post on X.

The Maldives’ government in its statement said that these opinions are “personal and do not represent the views of the government”.

The Maldivian government said that it believed that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, and negativity and disrupt close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners.