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Both Shamnaz and Rameez have worked with Muizzu as members of the Male City Council when he was serving as the city’s mayor.

Maldives arrests 2 ministers for alleged black magic on President Muizzu: reports

Both Shamnaz and Rameez have worked with Muizzu as members of the Male City Council when he was serving as the city&rsquo;s mayor.

Maldives police have arrested two serving ministers for allegedly performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, local media reported on Thursday.
Shamnaz Saleem, who was a state minister at the Environment Ministry, her ex-husband Adam Rameez, who was serving as a minister at the President&rsquo;s Office, and two others were arrested, local media said quoting the police, which, however, declined to share any information about the reasons or the alleged performance of black magic.
&ldquo;Shamnaz, alongside two other individuals, was arrested on Sunday. All three of them have been remanded in custody for seven days. She was suspended from her post on Wednesday as per the Environment Ministry,&rdquo; news portal Sun.mv reported, adding, Rameez too has been suspended on Thursday.
Incidentally, both Shamnaz and Rameez have worked with Muizzu as members of the Male City Council when he was serving as the city&rsquo;s mayor.
Media reported that after Muizzu assumed office as the President in November last year, Shamnaz was appointed as a state minister first at Muliaage, the official residence of the president and then transferred to the Environment Ministry.
&ldquo;Rameez, during his time at Male City Council, was known as a close aide of Muizzu, who was the mayor at that time,&rdquo; Sun.mv said further and added, &ldquo;However, he has been absent from the public light in the past five months or so.&rdquo; Neither the Maldives government nor the President's office has made any official comment on the issue.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/role-of-australian-diplomacy-in-julian-assange-s-release-1719458913137">Role of Australian diplomacy in Julian Assange's release</a>

Maldives media reported that Muizzu has accepted the invitation and will leave for New Delhi on Saturday.

President Muizzu to attend PM Modi’s oath ceremony in New Delhi: Report

Maldives media reported that Muizzu has accepted the invitation and will leave for New Delhi on Saturday.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has accepted the invitation to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi over the weekend, according to a media report on Friday.
News portal Edition.mv quoted its sister-publication in Dhivehi, Mihaaru News, as saying that President Muizzu will leave for New Delhi on Saturday for the ceremony accompanied by several other senior government officials.
There was no official confirmation yet from the Maldives President's Office about Muizzu's first official visit to India.
Earlier on Wednesday, Muizzu had congratulated Modi and voiced his desire to work with the Indian prime minister to advance the bilateral ties. &ldquo;Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi and the BJP and BJP-led NDA, on the success in the 2024 Indian General Election, for the third consecutive term.
&ldquo;I look forward to working together to advance our shared interests in pursuit of shared prosperity and stability for our two countries,&rdquo; Muizzu posted on X.
This marks the pro-China president's first official visit to India since assuming office on November 17 last year. Unlike his predecessors, who made the first port of call to New Delhi after assuming office, Muizzu had travelled to Turkiye first and to China for his first state visit in January.
Within hours of his oath, Muizzu had demanded the removal of 88-odd Indian military personnel from his country, straining bilateral ties. The military personnel were repatriated from three aviation platforms and replaced by civilians from India by the May 10 deadline set by Muizzu.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to witness the presence of leaders from neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles, in addition to the Maldives, as part of India&rsquo;s &lsquo;Neighbourhood First&rsquo; policy.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/tdp-s-nara-lokesh-promises-to-continue-4-muslim-quota-in-andhra-pradesh-1717812106573">TDP's Nara Lokesh promises to continue 4% Muslim quota in Andhra Pradesh</a>

RuPay, a product of the National Payments Corporation of India or NPCI, marks the country's first global card payment network, widely accepted in India across ATMs, POS devices, and e-commerce platforms

Maldives set to introduce India’s RuPay service

RuPay, a product of the National Payments Corporation of India or NPCI, marks the country's first global card payment network, widely accepted in India across ATMs, POS devices, and e-commerce platforms

Despite strained bilateral relations, the Maldives is set to introduce India's RuPay service, with a senior minister stating it will strengthen the Maldivian Rufiyaa.
RuPay, a product of the National Payments Corporation of India or NPCI, marks the country's first global card payment network, widely accepted in India across ATMs, POS devices, and e-commerce platforms.
Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, announced the agreement for local currency usage in bilateral trade with both India and China, alongside the impending launch of RuPay in the Maldives.&nbsp;
Also read/watch - <a title="PhonePe UPI payments launched in Sri Lanka in partnership with Lanka Pay" href="https://www.editorji.com/business-news/phonepe-upi-payments-launched-in-sri-lanka-in-partnership-with-lanka-pay-1715929220070">PhonePe UPI payments launched in Sri Lanka in partnership with Lanka Pay</a>&nbsp; &ldquo;The upcoming launch of India's RuPay service is anticipated to further bolster the Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR),&rdquo; Saeed told state-run PSM News on Wednesday. He also emphasised that &ldquo;addressing the dollar issue and reinforcing the MVR is a top priority for the current administration.
An India-Maldives joint statement during the official visit of the then President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to India in August 2022 said: &ldquo;The two leaders welcomed the ongoing work to operationalize the usage of Rupay Cards in Maldives and agreed to consider further measures to boost bilateral travel and tourism and economic inter-linkages.&rdquo;
Over the last few years, multiple banks and payment companies from across various countries have partnered with NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of NPCI, to accept UPI and RuPay in one form or the other. RuPay services are already operational in Canada, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the USA.

MEA India welcomed Zameer saying, "Discussions on bilateral & regional issues and seeking ways to provide impetus to our multifaceted relationship lie ahead." 

Maldives Foreign Minister visits India, says derogatory remarks 'won't happen again'

MEA India welcomed Zameer saying, "Discussions on bilateral &amp; regional issues and seeking ways to provide impetus to our multifaceted relationship lie ahead."&nbsp;

Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, who is on his first official visit to India, has distanced his government from the derogatory remarks made by some of its ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that it was not the stand of the government and that "proper action" has been taken to ensure that it is not repeated&nbsp; &nbsp; In an interview with ANI, Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer reiterated the government's stance, stating, "I think if you have seen, like you said, we have said that it's not the stand of the government or it's not the view of the government. And we believe it shouldn't have been done. And then we are taking proper action to make sure that this don't repeat."
The row between India and the Maldives broke out over derogatory posts made by three officials about PM Modi.
Heavily Trolled for India visit&nbsp;
After reaching in New Delhi, Zameer posted on X, &ldquo;Arrived in New Delhi on my first bilateral official visit to India! Looking forward to productive discussions, strengthening ties, and experiencing the vibrant culture of #India."&nbsp;
However, he did not receive a warn welcome as many Indians trolled him claiming the visit was not for &lsquo;mutual benefits,&rsquo; but rather for &lsquo;unilateral benefits&rsquo;. &nbsp;
An X user replied to his post saying, &ldquo;One correction sir: it&rsquo;s unilateral benefit of Maldives&rsquo;s people.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I hope the first thing you&rsquo;ll do is apologise on behalf of your government and president," posted another.
A third user wrote, &ldquo;Indians are done with you and your leadership who destroyed the age long relationship." &nbsp;

Muizzu, who cast his vote at a polling station in the morning, urged every citizen to exercise their right to vote as soon as possible.
 

Maldives VP says peace should not be lost over election results

Muizzu, who cast his vote at a polling station in the morning, urged every citizen to exercise their right to vote as soon as possible.




Muizzu, who cast his vote at a polling station in the morning, urged every citizen to exercise their right to vote as soon as possible.
&nbsp;

Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef on Sunday underlined the need to maintain peace regardless of the outcome of the crucial parliamentary election, as he urged citizens and political parties to prioritise the interests of the nation.
 Maldivians cast their ballots for the 20th People's Majlis on Sunday, which is seen as a litmus test for President Mohamed Muizzu, whose policies will have a bearing on the Indian Ocean archipelagic nation's relations with both India and China.
 Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Latheef expressed his desire for peace and unity among Maldivians, regardless of electoral outcomes, psmnews.mv reported.
 Stressing that peace remains a paramount aspiration for all citizens, Latheef urged individuals to prioritise the nation's interests and directed the same message to political parties as well. He also highlighted the significance of the parliamentary election for the Maldivian populace, noting their historical diligence in fulfilling civic duties, according to the report.
 Latheef also underlined the importance of the current election, which is crucial for President Muizzu, seen as a pro-China politician.
 Just a few days ahead of the polls, the opposition parties demanded a probe and impeachment of the president following a leaked report of his alleged corruption from 2018, a charge dismissed by Muizzu.
 Besides, since Muizzu came to office, lawmakers have blocked three of his nominees to the cabinet.
 Muizzu, who cast his vote at a polling station in the morning, urged every citizen to exercise their right to vote as soon as possible.
 "Voting is a constitutional right and responsibility afforded to every citizen. All citizens should come out and exercise their right to vote as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of eligible voters to not wait until evening and quickly attend their respective polling stations to cast ballots," he was quoted as saying by Edition.mv news portal.
 Meanwhile, former President Abdulla Yameen on Sunday alleged that money was given to voters during the polling.
 Speaking to reporters after voting, Yameen, a top leader of the People's National Front, said the law, which makes bribery an offence, is unenforceable.
 "They are distributing money here and there. I am not saying that distributing money is wrong. But it becomes wrong when it is a crime under the law. But what are we doing by making laws that cannot be enforced by the police or the state," he was quoted as saying by Adahadu.com portal.
 Parliamentarians will be elected to a total of 93 seats in the Majlis, with 368 candidates contesting from six parties, including Muizzu&rsquo;s People&rsquo;s National Congress (PNC) and the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and as independents.
 A total of 602 ballot boxes have been set up in the Maldives and three other countries for the parliamentary election. Polling stations are also open in 34 resorts, prisons, and other industrial islands.
 The countries in which ballot boxes are placed for voting are Thiruvananthapuram in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, media reports said.
 The election in the Maldives also came amidst deteriorating ties between the archipelago nation and India since Muizzu, 45, assumed power in November last year. During last year's presidential election, he had maintained a strident anti-India stand.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who stormed to power on the back of a strong anti-India campaign, has urged New Delhi to provide debt relief to the island.

Maldives President Muizzu seeks debt relief from India amidst unease in ties   

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who stormed to power on the back of a strong anti-India campaign, has urged New Delhi to provide debt relief to the island nation.

After his anti-India rhetoric, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has struck a reconciliatory tone, saying India will continue to remain his country&rsquo;s &ldquo;closest ally&rdquo; and urged New Delhi to provide debt relief to the archipelago nation.
The Maldives owed approximately USD 400.9 million to India by the end of last year.
Ever since he took oath as the president in November last year, the pro-China Maldivian leader has pursued a hardline stand towards India and within hours had demanded that Indian military personnel operating three aviation platforms be repatriated from his country by May 10.
On Thursday, in his first interview with the local media since assuming office, Muizzu said India was instrumental in providing aid to the Maldives and has implemented the &ldquo;greatest number&rdquo; of projects.
India will continue to remain the Maldives&rsquo; closest ally, he said and emphasised that there was no question about it, Maldives news portal Edition.mv said in a report that carried excerpts of Muizzu&rsquo;s interview to its Dhivehi language sister-publication &lsquo;Mihaaru.&rsquo; Muizzu&rsquo;s comments praising India came after the first batch of Indian military personnel left the island nation this month as planned. By May 10, Muizzu had demanded that all 88 military personnel, manning the three Indian aviation platforms, should leave the country.
India has been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the last few years using two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft.
The Maldives' proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland's western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.
During the interview, Muizzu urged India to accommodate debt relief measures for the Maldives in the repayment of &ldquo;the hefty loans taken over consecutive governments.&rdquo; &ldquo;The conditions we have inherited are such that there are very large loans taken from India. Hence, we are holding discussions to explore leniencies in the repayment structure of these loans.
&ldquo;Instead of halting any ongoing projects ... to proceed with them at speed, so I see no reason for any adverse effects (on Maldives-India relations),&rdquo; Muizzu added.
Muizzu&rsquo;s conciliatory comments towards India came ahead of Parliament elections in Maldives slated in mid-April.
He said Maldives has taken significant loans from India, which are heftier than can be borne by the Maldivian economy. &ldquo;Due to this, he is currently discussing with the Indian government to explore options to repay the loans to the best of the Maldives&rsquo; economic capabilities,&rdquo; the news portal said quoting him.
Muizzu, who expressed hope that India would &ldquo;facilitate debt relief measures in the repayment of these loans,&rdquo; also said that he has conveyed his appreciation to the Indian government for their contributions.
During the previous regime, headed by pro-India leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih&rsquo;s administration, the total amount of loans taken from the Export and Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) stood at USD 1.4 million (MVR 22 million).
&ldquo;Together with this, the amount owed by Maldives to India by the end of last year stood at MVR 6.2 billion, he said.
At the current rate of 1 MVR equal to USD 16, this is approximately USD 400.9 million.
&ldquo;I also conveyed to Prime Minister Modi during our meeting that I did not intend to halt any ongoing projects. Instead, I expressed my desire to strengthen and expedite them&rdquo; he said, referring to his discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dubai on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December 2023.
&ldquo;I suggested a high-level committee be established, one designed for quick decision-making even in the bridge project to ensure speedy work. The same for the Hanimaadhoo Airport,&rdquo; he added.
Answering a question about Indian military personnel, Muizzu termed it as &ldquo;the only matter of contention&rdquo; that arose with India about the presence of Indian military in the Maldives and added that India, too, had accepted the fact and agreed to withdraw the military personnel.
&ldquo;It is not nice to dismiss or disregard aid from one country to another as useless,&rdquo; he said and claimed that he had not taken any action or made any statements that may strain the relationship between the two countries.
&ldquo;Even if they are troops of some other country, we will deal with them in the same manner. I have said so very clearly. It is nothing personal but rather a matter of our national security,&rdquo; he added.
Muizzu stated that his government acted to find the swiftest and most prudent solution through deliberations to deal with the issue of the Indian military in the Maldives.
He defended his agreement with India to deploy civilians instead of military personnel to run the helicopters and the Dornier aircraft saying that the erstwhile Abdulla Yameen administration which demanded the Indian troops to be sent out has not succeeded as Indian personnel remained in the Maldives.
While the same goals were being worked for in both instances, Muizzu indicated that results can be achieved through discussions and deliberations. &ldquo;Everything can be achieved through discussions and deliberations. That&rsquo;s what I believe,&rdquo; he said.
Meanwhile, amid his tenuous ties with India, Muizzu had pursued an obvious pro-China policy starting with his January visit to Beijing. During his China visit, he signed a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership besides signing 20 agreements to assist Maldives infrastructure after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China also announced a USD 130 million grant besides promising to send more Chinese tourists to the tourism-dependent Maldives.
After his return from China, Muizzu, without naming any country, said Maldives may be a small country, but &ldquo;that is not a license for anybody to bully us.&rdquo; Muizzu also terminated a hydrography agreement with India and has been claiming that the Indian Ocean does not belong to any particular country.

Maldives tourism industry feels the pinch as Indian tourists turn away

<h2>The fall in the number of Indian tourists follows the recent diplomatic row between India and Maldives</h2>

Indian tourists, who used to flock to the Maldives, are now shunning the island nation and its tourism industry is already feeling the pinch of declined revenue, prompting calls for mending the fence with New Delhi.
India has slipped to sixth position in 2024 compared to being a topper in visitor numbers in 2023, prompting voices from the local tourism industry to flag the danger for the tourism-dependent economy of the archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean.
A full-blown backlash was directed at the Maldives following derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian officials after Modi posted photos and video of the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India&rsquo;s west coast on January 6 on his X handle.
According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry statistics, over 17 lakh tourists visited the island nation in 2023, out of which more than 2,09,198 visitors were Indians followed by Russians (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).
The number of Indian visitors was more than 2.4 lakh in 2022 while over 2.11 lakh Indians flew to the Maldives in 2021. The Maldives was also one of the few countries open for international tourists during the pandemic and nearly 63,000 Indians visited that country during that period.
India occupied the sixth spot in tourist arrivals in 2024, the Ministry&rsquo;s statistics showed, compared to the consistent first spot since 2020 with Indian tourists visiting the island nation even during the pandemic time.
Till about 10 days ago, the Ministry data showed that tourist arrivals from India as of March 2 was 27,224, which is a 33 per cent decline compared to last year when the corresponding number stood at 41,224.
The local tourism industry is worried about the development and already flagged caution.
Explaining how India plays a vital role in sustaining tourism-related receipts to the state during off-peak season, a news portal Sun.mv said: &ldquo;Indian travellers have a counter-travel pattern to European travellers; meaning Indian visitors frequent to the Maldives during hot seasons, which coincides with a drop in European market arrivals. In other words, India is the most significant 'filler' for the Maldives tourism off-peak season." It further reported on Tuesday, how, tourism industry experts and analysts have highlighted the adverse impacts of dwindling Indian arrivals to the Maldives, while some have forecast estimated losses north of USD 1.8 billion to USD 2 billion.
&ldquo;Travel agencies and operators relying on Indian arrivals report a revenue decline of 80 per cent - a dangerous prospect,&rdquo; the report said.
Quoting an official from &lsquo;Let's Go Maldives&rsquo;, a prominent travel agency, the portal said, the Indian traveller market consists of multiple demographics and segments from affluent to budget travellers and India is a large summer market.
&ldquo;Without India, the occupancy rate is impacted negatively. This makes it a crucial market for us,&rdquo; the official added.
It is not just the Indian passport holders that have boycotted the Maldives but &ldquo;the arrival of affluent and wealthy Indian-origin travellers from other nations as well has declined, which too indicated the contribution of the Indian market in Maldives tourism, the news report said quoting a prominent travel agency, Travel Connection Maldives' CEO Mohamed Mirshad.
Authorities are hoping that the resumption of direct flights between Hanimaadhoo International Airport in Maldives and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state of India would bring back some more visitors from India.

Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu has given a deadline of May 10 for complete withdrawal of Indian troops. 

First batch of Indian military crew leaves Maldives: reports

Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu has given a deadline of May 10 for complete withdrawal of Indian troops.&nbsp;

The first batch of Indian military personnel has left from Maldives, the Indian Express reported quoting local media. The crew manning a helicopter gifted by India to Maldives left after handing over the operations to an Indian civilian crew.&nbsp;
The local media reported that the 25 Indian soldiers who were stationed in Addu city are now back in India.&nbsp;
Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu has demanded that no Indian soldiers, in uniform or in civilian clothes, should remain in the island nation after May 10.&nbsp;

The statement comes less than a week after an Indian civilian team reached the Maldives to take charge of one of the three aviation platforms in the island nation.

No Indian troops to remain in Maldives post May 10: Mohamed Muizzu

The statement comes less than a week after an Indian civilian team reached the Maldives to take charge of one of the three aviation platforms in the island nation.

Stepping up his anti-India rhetoric, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has affirmed that no Indian military personnel, not even those in civilian clothing, would be present inside his country after May 10, a media report said on Tuesday.
Muizzu&rsquo;s statement comes less than a week after an Indian civilian team reached the Maldives to take charge of one of the three aviation platforms in the island nation, well ahead of the March 10 deadline agreed by the two nations for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel.
Addressing the Baa atoll Eydhafushi residential community during his tour across the atoll, the President stated that due to his government&rsquo;s success in expelling Indian troops from the country, people who spread false rumours, are attempting to twist the situation, a news portal Edition.mv reported.
&ldquo;That these people [Indian military] are not departing, that they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing. We must not indulge such thoughts that instil doubts in our hearts and spread lies,&rdquo; the portal quoted Muizzu, widely regarded as a pro-China leader, as saying.
&ldquo;There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. The Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence,&rdquo; he said, on a day when his country signed an agreement with China to receive free military aid.
Earlier last month, after a high-level meeting in Delhi on February 2 between the two sides, the Maldivian foreign ministry said India would replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10 and the first phase of the process would be completed by March 10.
In his maiden address to Parliament on February 5, he made similar remarks.
There are 88 military personnel manning the three Indian platforms that have been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the last few years using two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft.
Muizzu rode to power last year on an anti-India stance and within hours of taking oath demanded India to remove its personnel from the strategically located archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
Edition.mv further reported that while the first troops to depart the country are the Indian military personnel operating the two helicopters in Addu City, the military personnel present in Haa Dhaalu atoll Hanimaadhoo and Laamu atoll Kahdhoo are also expected to leave ahead of May 10.
India had agreed to remove their troops from Maldives under the condition that a number of their civilians equivalent to the military presence are brought to operate the aircraft.
The Opposition has been directing criticism at the administration asserting that the Indian personnel sent to Maldives as civilians are in reality military officials out of uniform and that the government has no way to ascertain otherwise, the portal claimed.
Meanwhile, local media reports also said that Maldives has successfully tied up with Sri Lanka to run flights for medical evacuation last week, further indicating that it is bent on removing all Indian troops in whichever category.
Further highlighting that securing true independence is a concept he regards with utmost priority, the President remarked that the State is exerting efforts with due importance &ldquo;to regain the southern maritime area deprived of the country in addition to expelling Indian troops from the Maldives.&rdquo; &ldquo;I am confident we can achieve this. The delay in concluding this task is due to the adverse procedures practiced during the implementation. It was done without even taking the matter to the parliament ... in violation of the Constitution as well,&rdquo; the portal quoted the President as saying.
The Maldives' proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland's western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.
The Maldives has been India's key maritime neighbour in the IOR and it occupies a special place in its initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy.'

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has been asked to formally apologise to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a leader of the Jumhoori Party.

Apologise to Modi: Maldivian leader to President Mohamed Muizzu

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has been asked to formally apologise to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a leader of the Jumhoori Party.

Gasuim Ibrahim, leader of the Jumhoori Party, has urged Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to formally apologise to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek "diplomatic reconciliation" to mend bilateral relations.
Ibrahim&rsquo;s demand referred to remarks by Muizzu &ndash; regarded as pro-China &ndash; earlier in the month referring to India as a bully without naming the country.
Amid a diplomatic row with India that erupted after derogatory social media posts by three of his ministers against Prime Minister Modi, President Muizzu on his return home after a five-day high-profile state visit to China on January 13 said, &ldquo;We may be small but this doesn't give them the license to bully us.&rdquo; Incidentally, the demand comes a day after the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which holds a majority in the Maldivian Parliament, on Monday said it plans to submit a motion to impeach Muizzu.
Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.
Gasim, while speaking with media after a meeting of the Jumhoori Party (JP), called on President Muizzu to formally apologise to India and Prime Minister Modi for the recent controversial remarks made during an interview, the Voice Of Maldives portal said.
Expressing concern over the comments, Gasim urged President Muizzu to seek forgiveness from India for the indirect attacks made in the interview, the digital platform said.
Gasim attributed those unwarranted remarks to former President Abdulla Yameen, who initiated the "India Out" campaign leading to tensions between Maldives and India, and pointed out that former President Ibrahim Solih, who was the president at that time, &ldquo;delayed in opposing the campaign.&rdquo; After his return from China, Muizzu also suggested reducing dependence on India in various areas, including medical services and medicines. Gasim said Muizzu proposed ending the import of general medicines from India and exploring alternatives from Europe, America, or countries of origin for the medicine.
Then, highlighting India's significant role and expertise in these fields, Gasim said such a move might not be practical. &ldquo;India is at a higher level in those fields, and they even export medicine to Europe, so we can't do that.&rdquo; Muizzu's recent comments further complicate the relationship between Maldives and India and Gasim Ibrahim urged "diplomatic reconciliation through a formal apology to mend bilateral relations,&rdquo; the portal said.
This is not the first time that Muizzu has been asked to mend ways with India. On January 24, calling India the &ldquo;most long-standing ally,&rdquo; the MDP and the Democrats expressed concern about the Muizzu government&rsquo;s &ldquo;anti-India stance.&rdquo; The open support (for India) by the two parties had come a day after the Maldives government said a Chinese ship, equipped to carry research and surveys, would be docking at a Maldivian port after being permitted to make a port call for replenishment.
The permission to allow the Chinese ship had come amid strained ties between India and Maldives after President Muizzu made Beijing his first port of call early this month soon after assuming office. Traditionally, New Delhi has been the first port of call for a new Maldivian President.
Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/parliament-s-budget-session-begins-today-last-of-current-lok-sabha-1706663723616">Parliament's Budget Session begins today, last of current Lok Sabha</a>

A scuffle ensued after the opposition MDP MPs were allegedly prevented from entering the parliament by the ruling PPM-PNC alliance

Kicks and punches rain in Maldives Parliament during special session  

A scuffle ensued after the opposition MDP MPs were allegedly prevented from entering the parliament by the ruling PPM-PNC alliance

The men responsible for making laws were busy engaging in fistfights in the Maldivian parliament. A clash had erupted during a special session convened to get parliament's approval for the ministers in President Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet.
A scuffle ensued after the opposition MPs from the Maldivian Democratic Party were allegedly prevented from entering the parliament by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People&rsquo;s National Congress (PNC) alliance, who were upset that four of its members didn't get approval to join the cabinet.
MDP wields a significant majority in the parliament. Several clips shared online on Sunday showed parliamentarians exchanging kicks and blows, and an MP's hair being pulled. &nbsp;
The ruling alliances said that the opposition MPs decision to not accept the ministers of Muizzu's cabinet could hinder progress and called for the resignation of the speaker of parliament.
The ruling coalition parties in a statement framed the ministers' rejection as an obstacle to public service delivery, local news outlet Adhadhu reported.
Chief advisor to Muizzu and PNC chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdullah defended the ministers' right to be reappointed, even without authorisation, and criticised the refusal to approve them as irresponsible.
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(With inputs from agencies)

Maldives teenager dies as govt denies use of Indian aircraft for medical airlift: report

Maldives teenager dies as govt denies use of Indian aircraft for medical airlift: report

A 14-year-old boy died in Male, allegedly after President Mohammed Muizzu refused approval to use a Dornier aircraft by India for his airlift.
According to local media reports, medical services for the teenager, who had a brain tumour and suffered a stroke, were delayed after authorities ignored the request for an air ambulance to transport him from his home island to the capital city, Male.
While the family has alleged a lack of prompt medical evacuation, &nbsp;Aasandha Company Limited, responding to the emergency evacuation request, cited a technical problem for the failure.
&nbsp;This development comes at a time when diplomatic relations between India and the archipelago nation have recently deteriorated, following derogatory comments made by the Maldivian ministers towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Two months after Male asked India to remove its forces from the country, the High-level core group between the two nations started official dialogues on January 14.

Maldives, India start official talks on Indian troop withdrawal: Report

Two months after Male asked India to remove its forces from the country, the High-level core group between the two nations started official dialogues on January 14.

The Maldives and India on Sunday initiated official talks on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelagic nation, according to a media report, nearly two months after Male sought their removal. The talks began at the Maldivian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Male&rsquo;, SunOnline newspaper reported. Ibrahim Khaleel, the Minister at the President's Office for Strategic Communications, told the newspaper that the meeting was that of the high-level core group which Maldives and India agreed to set up during the meeting between Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai in December. Khaleel said the group was discussing the withdrawal of Indian military personnel and expediting India-backed development projects in the Maldives, the report said. Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17 last year, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. Khaleel had earlier said the new Maldivian administration led by President Muizzu has established that there are 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi. There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering. The discussions on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel come amid a row between the two nations in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Modi. During his just-concluded state visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third.&nbsp;

Maldives: setback to President Muizzu as pro-India leader wins major election 

The Mayoral polls were held in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading to a diplomatic row with India.

&nbsp;In a setback to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, the pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has secured a landslide victory in the capital Male&rsquo;s Mayoral election.
The MDP candidate, Adam Azim, has been elected as the new mayor of Male, a post held by Muizzu till recently. Muizzu resigned from the position to contest the presidential elections last year.
The Maldives media reported Azim&rsquo;s win as a &ldquo;landslide&rdquo; and &ldquo;victory by a large margin&rdquo;.
The MDP is headed by pro-India former president Mohammad Solih, who was defeated by Muizzu, a pro-China leader, in the presidential elections.
With 41 boxes counted, Azim has taken a huge lead with 5,303 votes. His rival Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzu's People&rsquo;s National Congress (PNC) got 3,301 votes, Maldives&rsquo; Sun Online news portal reported.
The poll on Saturday was marked by a low turnout, according to reports.
The Mayoral election victory is expected to revive the political fortunes of the MDP, which still holds a majority in the Parliament.
Muizzu, who returned to Male on Saturday after a five-day state visit to China, congratulated Azim and pledged to cooperate with the Male City Council and the Mayor.
Azim said that his victory was a victory for all residents of Male.
Speaking to Mihaaru News, Azim expressed gratitude towards those who supported him and voted for him in the election. He also thanked MDP's leadership and campaign teams.
The Mayoral polls were held in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading to a diplomatic row with India. During his high-profile visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing.
Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third.&nbsp;

Muizzu who is seen as a pro-China leader said that the Indian Ocean belongs to all countries and that Maldives isnt in anyone’s backyard

'Doesn't give them the license to bully us': President Muizzu amid row with India

Muizzu who is seen as a pro-China leader said that the Indian Ocean belongs to all countries and that Maldives isnt in anyone&rsquo;s backyard

Returning home after a five-day high-profile state visit to China, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday struck a defiant note saying that his country may be small but &ldquo;doesn't give them the license to bully us&rdquo;.
His comments came amid a diplomatic row with India over derogatory social media posts by three of his ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We may be small but this doesn't give them the license to bully us," Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, said without naming any country.
"Though we have small islands in this ocean, we have a vast exclusive economic zone of 900,000 square km. Maldives is one of the countries with the biggest share of this ocean,&rdquo; he told the media on his arrival from China after concluding the state visit, the first after assuming office in November last year.
&ldquo;This ocean does not belong to a specific country. This (Indian) Ocean also belongs to all countries situated in it,&rdquo; he said, in an apparent jibe at India.
"We aren&rsquo;t in anyone&rsquo;s backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state,&rdquo; he was quoted as saying by the Maldives Sun Online portal.
During his visit to China, Muizzu held talks with President Xi Jinping after which the two countries signed 20 agreements. "The two sides agree to continue firmly supporting each other in safeguarding their respective core interests," said a joint statement issued at the end of Muizzu's talks with the top Chinese leaders.
"China firmly supports the Maldives in upholding its national sovereignty, independence and national dignity, respects and supports the Maldives' exploration of a development path that suits its national conditions, and firmly opposes external interference in the internal affairs of the Maldives," the statement said, without referring to any country.
In his media briefing in Male, Muizzu said China has granted USD 130 million in assistance for his country.
Muizzu said the bulk of the USD 130 million assistance will be spent on redeveloping the roads in Male, where the mayor election is being held on Saturday.
He was the former Mayor of the capital city before getting elected to the Presidency in November last year.
&ldquo;That is approximately USD 130 million in grants. This will be spent on developmental projects. The biggest spending will be on the development of the roads of Male,&rdquo; he was quoted as saying by local news portal Sun Online.
Also, China&rsquo;s Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin said Maldives will receive support for more development projects from Beijing if they align with President Xi&rsquo;s initiatives.
Wang, who accompanied Muizzu on his visit to China, said there are three key factors to the strong relations between Maldives and China.
&ldquo;The first and most important factor is mutual political trust. The second factor is to strengthen the docking of President Xi&rsquo;s initiatives and the national development strategy of President Muizzu. And with this docking, I think we can decide on more projects that benefit the Maldivian people,&rdquo; she said.
Wang said that the third one is to follow the principle of extensive consultation, joint construction, and also shared benefits. &ldquo;I think that with these three key factors, we will have a very fruitful and sustainable cooperation in the future,&rdquo; she said.
&ldquo;During this visit, the two heads of state have announced the elevation of our bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. This will provide a strong political guarantee for the future cooperation between the two countries,&rdquo; the Sun Online said, quoting her interview.
Muizzu&rsquo;s visit to China was marred by the diplomatic row with India over derogatory remarks by his ministers against Prime Minister Modi and the release of a report by the EU Election Observation Mission of Maldives that said the ruling coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) deployed anti-India sentiments and attempted to spread disinformation in the 2023 presidential elections in which Muizzu won.
The EU report cast a shadow over Muizzu&rsquo;s Presidential election last November as he contested as part of PPM headed at that time by former pro-China President Abdullah Yameen, who is currently serving a prison sentence for corruption.
During Muizzu&rsquo;s visit to Beijing, the two countries signed a USD 50 million agreement to develop an integrated tourism zone in Hulhumale&rsquo; besides building 30,000 social housing units in Rasmale&rsquo;.
China will also provide grant assistance for the development of a 100-bed tertiary hospital in Vilimale&rsquo;, the report said.
The India-built Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male is regarded as the biggest in the country.
The 300-bed hospital was built in 1992 by India well before China made its presence in the island nation with infrastructure projects. The IGMH was remodified with Indian assistance in 2018 with the addition of more diagnostic and treatment facilities.
During Muizzu&rsquo;s visit to China, the two countries also signed an agreement to allow Maldives&rsquo; national airline, Maldivian, to conduct domestic flight operations in China.&nbsp;

Maldives and China elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Maldives, China sign 20 deals amid Male's row with India

Maldives and China elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday held talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mohamed Muizzu after which the two countries signed 20 key agreements and elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
"20 key agreements were signed today between the Government of the Maldives and the Government of China this afternoon and both the Presidents witnessed the signing ceremony," Maldivian President's office said in a post on X.
Muizzu and his wife Sajida Mohammad were given a ceremonial welcome at the Great Hall of People by Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Great Hall of People. President Muizzu was accorded a red carpet welcome and a 21-gun salute.
President XI and Peng Liyuan later hosted a state banquet in their honour.
Muizzu&rsquo;s state visit to China is taking place amid a diplomatic row with India over derogatory remarks by his ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the release of a report by EU Election Observation Mission of Maldives that said the ruling coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) deployed anti-India sentiments and attempted to spread disinformation in the 2023 presidential elections in which Muizzu won.
Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, is visiting China amid the row with India after some Maldivian ministers posted derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi leading to a spate of cancellations of reservations by Indian tourists, who constitute the largest number of visitors to the tourism-dependent island nation.
Besides talks with Xi, Muizzu is expected to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials before his return to Male on January 12.
Muizzu reached Beijing last night after staying in the Chinese city of Fujian for two days.
In his address to the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province on Tuesday, Muizzu appealed to China to "intensify" efforts to send more tourists to his country.
"China was our (Maldives') number one market (for tourism) pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," he said.
His appeal for more Chinese tourists came amid a diplomatic row with India.
Muizzu's government suspended three deputy ministers for their derogatory posts on social media.
Also, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) strongly condemned the derogatory comments.
According to data released by the Maldives Tourism Ministry earlier, India has remained the largest tourist market for the country in 2023.
The highest number of visitors to the Maldives were from India, with 209,198 arrivals, followed by Russia in second place with 209,146 arrivals, and China in third place with 187,118 arrivals.
Muizzu also said that China remains "one of our closest allies and development partners." He praised the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects launched by President Xi in 2014, saying that they "delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history", according to his speech.
He also said that his administration is committed to the quick implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with China, describing it as a symbol of the close commercial ties between the two countries.
Maldives and China signed the FTA in December 2014 during the pro-China President Abdulla Yameen administration. However, his successor President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration did not implement the agreement, according to Maldives media reports.
He said the FTA is a symbol of the close commercial ties between the two countries.
"The FTA&rsquo;s aim to boost bilateral trade and investments, especially increasing our export of fish products to China is a key priority for us through the FTA,&rdquo; he said.
China-Maldives bilateral trade in 2022 totalled to USD 451.29 million of which China&rsquo;s exports constituted USD 451.29 million against USD 60,000 of exports from Maldives.
Muizzu also sought investments from Chinese companies for 11 projects at the Maldives Investment Forum.
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Praising China's Belt and Road Initiative, Muizzu said Beijing delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history.

Maldives President urges China to send more tourists after boycott call by Indians

Praising China's Belt and Road Initiative, Muizzu said Beijing delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday appealed to China to "intensify" efforts to send more tourists to his country, amid a spate of cancellation of reservations by Indian tourists after a diplomatic row erupted over the derogatory remarks by his ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On the second day of his five-day state visit to China, Muizzu in his address to the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province on Tuesday termed China as the island nation's "closest" ally.
"China remains one of our closest allies and development partners," he said.
He praised the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014, saying that they "delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history", according to his speech.
He urged China to bolster the flow of its tourists to the Maldives.
"China was our (Maldives') number one market pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," according to a readout posted on his official website.
Also, Maldivian media reported that the two countries have signed a USD 50 million project to develop an integrated tourism zone in the Indian Ocean island.
Muizzu&rsquo;s appeal for more Chinese tourists came amid a diplomatic row following the derogatory remarks by some Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Modi after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach during his recent visit to Lakshadweep.
Muizzu&rsquo;s government suspended three deputy ministers for their derogatory posts on social media.
Also, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) strongly condemned the derogatory comments.
According to data released by the Maldives Tourism Ministry earlier, India has remained the largest tourist market for the country in 2023.
The highest number of visitors to the Maldives were from India, with 209,198 arrivals, followed by Russia in second place with 209,146 arrivals, and China in third place with 187,118 arrivals.
In 2022, India remained the top Maldives tourism market, with 240,000 arrivals. Russia followed closely in second place with 198,000 tourists, and Britain ranked third with over 177,000 arrivals.
Before COVID, China held the top spot with over 2.80 lakh tourists but is currently struggling to revive its domestic and foreign tourism due to a nearly four-year lockdown policy and the continued slowdown of its economy.
As a result, Chinese tourists who travelled abroad for holidays in millions before COVID are now restricting themselves given the economic slowdown.
Regarded as a pro-China politician in the Maldives, Muizzu told the Forum that his administration is focused on diversifying Maldives&rsquo; economic base and ensuring economic security while continuing to strengthen and drive the tourism industry and boost visitor numbers.
He also said that his administration is committed to the quick implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with China, describing it as a symbol of the close commercial ties between the two countries.
Maldives and China signed the FTA in December 2014 during the pro-China President Abdulla Yameen administration. However, his successor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih&rsquo;s administration did not implement the agreement, according to Maldives media reports.
He said the FTA is a symbol of the close commercial ties between the two countries.
"The FTA&rsquo;s aim to boost bilateral trade and investments, especially increasing our export of fish products to China is a key priority for us through the FTA,&rdquo; he said.
China-Maldives bilateral trade in 2022 totalled to USD 451.29 million of which China&rsquo;s exports constituted USD 451.29 million against USD 60,000 of exports from Maldives.
Muizzu also sought investments from Chinese companies for 11 projects at the Maldives Investment Forum.
The projects included the relocation of the Male Commercial Port to Thilafushi, the Velana International Airport development project, the construction of 15 more airports, and the expansion of SEZ, Maldives web portal edition.mv reported.

Amid the ongoing row with Maldives, Indian Cabinet Minister Kiren Rijiju shared a post promoting Lakshadweep. However, that backfired as he shared images of foreign islands

Did Kiren Rijiju share Maldives' picture while promoting Lakshadweep? See what happened

Amid the ongoing row with Maldives, InUnion Minister Kiren Rijiju shared a post promoting Lakshadweep. However, that backfired as he shared images of foreign islands

Amid the ongoing row with Maldives, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Earth Sciences hopped on the trend of promoting Indian islands of Lakshadweep. However, little did he know that it would backfire. While promoting the Lakshadweep, Rijiju ended up sharing images of Maldives.&nbsp;
Fact-checking website BOOM did a reverse check on the two images that Kiren Rijiju shared and it found that one image was from the Maldives and the other one was from Bora Bora island in French Polynesia.&nbsp;
Boom said that one of the images in which a tourist was seen kayaking was posted on X in 2015 saying it is from the Maldives. THe fact-checking website added that the other picture in which a tourist was snorkelling was uploaded on the stock photo website Alamy on July 10, 2012. &nbsp;In the caption of the image, the location of the image was mentioned as Bora Bora, French Polynesia&nbsp;
However, Kiren Rijiju was not the only one. Actor Ranveer Singh and BJP leaders Tajinder Singh Bagga, Ravi Kishan also shared the images of other islands and claimed that they are from Lakshadweep.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/maldives-foreign-minister-breaks-silence-over-derogatory-remarks-against-pm-modi-india-1704700008997">Maldives foreign minister breaks silence over 'derogatory' remarks against PM Modi, India &nbsp;</a>

Amid the diplomatic conflict, Indian tourists cancelled over 8,000 hotel bookings and 2,500 flight tickets. India usually holds the highest visitor count in the Maldives

EaseMyTrip share price surges as co-founder suspends Maldives bookings amid diplomatic row

Amid the diplomatic conflict, Indian tourists cancelled over 8,000 hotel bookings and 2,500 flight tickets. India usually holds the highest visitor count in the Maldives

EaseMyTrip's share price surged by over 5% during Monday's trading session. This rise came amid the company's co-founder and CEO, Nishant Pitti, announcing the suspension of all flight reservations to the Maldives. This decision was taken in response to disparaging remarks made by Maldivian ministers concerning India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The day commenced for EaseMyTrip at an intraday low of ₹41.90 on the NSE. Pitti took to social media platforms to express solidarity with India, stating, &ldquo;In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In solidarity with our nation, <a href="https://twitter.com/EaseMyTrip?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EaseMyTrip</a> has suspended all Maldives flight bookings ✈️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TravelUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TravelUpdate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SupportingNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SupportingNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LakshadweepTourism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LakshadweepTourism</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExploreIndianlslands?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ExploreIndianlslands</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakshadweep?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakshadweep</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExploreIndianIslands?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ExploreIndianIslands</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kishanreddybjp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kishanreddybjp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JM_Scindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JM_Scindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tourismgoi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tourismgoi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/incredibleindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@incredibleindia</a> <a href="https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY">https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY</a>
&mdash; Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) <a href="https://twitter.com/nishantpitti/status/1744080855100744082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
Pitti further complimented the pristine beauty of Lakshadweep's beaches and waterways, drawing comparisons to popular tourist destinations like the Maldives and Seychelles. He vowed to introduce exclusive deals to garner attention towards the Lakshadweep region, kickstarting the #ChaloLakshadweep campaign.
The viral hashtag #BoycottMaldives gained momentum across social media as Indian travellers postponed their planned trips to the island nation amidst the escalating tensions between India and the Maldives. This outcry was sparked by Maldivian politicians' criticisms of PM Modi and their mockery of his visit to Lakshadweep, acknowledging it as a tourist destination.
Reports from Rajiv Mehra, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, revealed there was a sudden drop in bookings, with refunds unlikely for payments made by individuals. Predictions suggested a decline in travel plans to the Maldives.
Following the diplomatic row, more than 8,000 hotel reservations and 2,500 airline tickets have been cancelled by Indian tourists. India accounted for the largest number of visitors to the Maldives (2,09,198), closely trailed by Russia (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118), reported Mint.
In the wake of his visit to Lakshadweep, PM Modi shared multiple photos, including a thrilling snorkelling experience. His social media posts portrayed the archipelago's snow-white beaches, azure skies, and crystalline waters, advocating for Lakshadweep to be a must-visit for adventure enthusiasts. Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/business-news/budget/budget-2024-what-s-the-reason-behind-the-shift-in-budget-date-from-february-28-to-february-1-1704459759315">Budget 2024: What's the reason behind the shift in Budget date from February 28 to February 1?</a>

Amid the controversy over 'anti-India' remarks by Maldives ministers, EaseMyTrip has suspended all flight bookings for the island nation

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

Amid the controversy over 'anti-India' remarks by Maldives ministers, EaseMyTrip has suspended all flight bookings for the island nation

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'.&nbsp;
Nishant Pitti, the CEO and co-founder of the online travel company made the announcement on X.&nbsp;
'In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings,' he posted.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
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)

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