Maldivians Engage in Discussions over India's Possible 'Boycott' Decision

The Maldives is facing potential consequences after three Maldivian junior ministers made "derogatory" comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These remarks, which referred to Modi as a "clown," "terrorist," and "puppet of Israel," sparked outrage in India and calls for a boycott of the Maldives. Indian tourists are one of the largest contributors to the Maldives' economy, with Indians being the largest group of tourists by nationality that visited the country last year. Tourism accounts for a significant portion of the Maldives' economy. The ministers have since been suspended, and the Maldivian foreign ministry released a statement clarifying that their comments were personal and did not represent the views of the government. However, concerns remain among residents in the Maldives about potential damage to diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Maldives heavily relies on India for food, infrastructure development, and technological advancements. Additionally, the country has strong cultural ties with India, as Maldivians grow up watching Bollywood films and dramas. The Maldivian Democratic Party, which has a "India first" policy and close ties with Delhi, is also concerned about the impact of the controversy. This incident comes at a time when the Maldivian president, Mohamed Muizzu, is visiting Beijing and requesting China to send more tourists to the Maldives. China was the Maldives' top tourism market before the COVID-19 pandemic, but direct flights from Beijing to Male have yet to resume. The controversy has also raised questions about Mr. Muizzu's handling of the situation, with critics arguing that stronger action should have been taken against the ministers. The Confederation of All India Traders has called for a boycott of the Maldives until an apology is issued. However, these calls for a boycott could also harm the many Indians who work in the Maldives' construction, hospitality, and retail sectors. There has been tension between India and the Maldives since Mr. Muizzu asked a contingent of 77 Indian troops to leave the country after coming into power. India maintains that its security personnel are there to maintain the maritime rescue and surveillance aircraft it donated to the Maldives. While many in the Maldives reject the disrespectful comments made by the ministers, there are concerns that coercive diplomatic actions by India could backfire and push the Maldives closer to China or other regional powers. Some argue that the Indian government should step in to reassure the Maldives and consider larger security and strategic interests before taking action. Overall, the spat with India has raised concerns about the potential economic fallout for the Maldives, as well as the broader implications for diplomatic relations between the two countries.