Two junior ministers in the Maldivian government were suspended for disparaging PM Narendra Modi this year. An official on Wednesday said that they have resigned ahead of a proposed visit by President Mohamed Muizzu to New Delhi.
Malsha Shareef and Mariyam Shiuna in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts were disciplined along with fellow minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid in January for comments they made on social media platform X.
They labelled Modi a “clown”, “terrorist” and “puppet of Israel” in response to his promotion of tourism in Lakshadweep. It was viewed as a signal to pro-China Muizzu who had pledged to end Maldives’ “India first” policy.
The comments had angered New Delhi and sparked a campaign by some Indian celebrities on social media to promote local tourism. This dented Indian arrivals in globally popular Maldives, whose islands are dotted with luxury resorts.
Muizzu’s office did not respond to calls seeking comment. A government official confirmed the resignations of Shareef and Shiuna but declined to give further details.
The president’s spokesperson was cited by local media as saying on Tuesday that Muizzu would make an official visit to India “very soon”.
Muizzu In India
It would be the Maldivian president’s first visit to New Delhi since he won election last year in a region where India and China compete for influence.
Muizzu made a state visit to Beijing soon after winning the vote. In June he attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi after India’s general election.
Maldives-India relations were hurt after Muizzu won power in April. He demanded New Delhi replace 80 defence personnel it had stationed on the Maldives with civilians as part of his “India out” campaign.
India agreed and completed the replacements in May while the relationship has been on the mend following diplomatic talks and meetings since.
(with inputs from Reuters)
