EaseMyTrip suspends flight bookings for Maldives amid row over 'anti-India' comments

EaseMyTrip has suspended all flight bookings for Maldives after a few ministers of the island nation made comments against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that were considered 'derogatory'.

Nishant Pitti, the CEO and co-founder of the online travel company made the announcement on X.

'In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings,' he posted.

A controversy erupted after public figures from Maldives started reacting to posts about Modi's visit to Lakshadweep and tweets about how Indians should visit the Indian islands instead of going to Maldives.

The Maldivian government on Sunday reportedly suspended three deputy ministers for 'derogatory' social media posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after New Delhi strongly raised the matter with Male and the island nation's top opposition leaders slamming the ruling establishment over the row.

The three deputy ministers criticised Modi for his post on 'X' following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

Several Maldivian media outlets, quoting officials, reported that deputy ministers in the youth ministry, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, have been suspended over their posts. The row erupted on a day President Dr Mohamed Muizzu embarked on a week-long visit to China.

In New Delhi, official sources said the Indian High Commission in Male strongly raised the matter with the Maldivian foreign ministry.

"Our high commission in the Maldives had strongly raised and expressed concerns about the comments made in regard to the prime minister by certain ministers in the Maldives government with the foreign office today," said a source.

The disparaging remarks by the ministers have drawn flak in India, with many celebrities urging people on X to explore domestic tourist destinations instead of going to the Maldives.

Several cine stars like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar were among the celebrities who appealed to people to visit "Indian islands" and coastal destinations.

In social media posts, Kumar, cricketer Hardik Pandya, former players Venkatesh Prasad and Virendra Sehwag and others also condemned the "hateful" and "racist" comments on X by the three ministers.

There were also posts on social media claiming that some Indians are cancelling their scheduled trip to the Maldives in view of the row.

The Maldivian foreign ministry said the government is aware of "derogatory remarks" on social media platforms against foreign leaders and that the personal views do not represent its position.

"Authorities in Maldives on Sunday suspended three deputy ministers who have come under fire for their posts on 'X' in which they are seen verbally abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India," the Atoll Times reported.

Sources said the Indian mission in Male took objection to the social media posts against the prime minister.

"The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," the Maldivian foreign ministry said in a statement.

(with PTI inputs)