Following his recent visit to Lakshadweep, Prime Minister Modi posted pictures on social media that quickly went viral. His tweets including pictures of himself going on early walks and snorkeling attracted a lot of attention. This prompted a number of Indian social media users to suggest the island of Union Territory as a competitive substitute for the Maldives as a travel destination. Things got a little worse when the tweet sparked remarks made by Maldivian government officials against India, which led to a major diplomatic crisis between India and the Maldives.
As it happened, Zahid Rameez, a council member of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), expressed his discontent with the increasing attention that PM Modi's post had received from around the world. He made fun of the PM's visit by saying that India would never be able to compete with the Maldives in terms of tourism. Even the idea of competition was mocked by Rameez, who said, "While promoting Lakshadweep is commendable, the belief that they can match our level of service is simply delusional."
India has officially expressed its worries about Male's remarks, which prompted the Maldives government to issue a statement distancing itself from the remarks. Following India's objection, three officials were suspended. According to official sources, the Narendra Modi administration has consistently prioritized promoting tourism destinations in India. The Prime Minister has previously shared images from Sikkim, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Jammu and Kashmir to highlight these and other locations.
A boycott of the Maldives and its tourist attractions was advocated online by a number of Indian celebrities and social media influencers as the situation grew more intense. It was Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, where he inaugurated development projects and strolled around the island's scenic beaches, that set off this ongoing controversy. Some Maldivians, especially government officials, appeared to take offense at Modi's attempts to promote tourism.
