Maldives Neta's Insult To India post PM's Lakshadweep Trip Misfires, 'Boycott Maldives' Demand Grows

New Delhi: Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), triggered a storm of backlash on January 5 after he made derogatory and racist remarks against Indians on the microblogging site X. The controversy erupted following a post by one X user named Mr. Sinha who shared images of PM Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Outraged by Rameez's racist comments, netizens expressed strong disapproval, vowing to abstain from future vacations in the Maldives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited Lakshadweep and highlighted how over the past 10 years of his government, numerous developmental projects have been completed in the Lakshadweep Islands. He also went snorkeling to explore the undersea life and encouraged people to explore the picturesque island and advocated for the ‘vocal for local’ campaign to bolster tourism. PM Modi also posted pictures of his undersea exploration on X and shared his ‘exhilarating experience’ of the sojourn in the islands located in the Arabian Sea.

The X user's post praising PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep and how it can boost Lakshadweep's tourism against the flow of tourists in Maldives didn't go down well with the Maldives politician. Zahid Rameez's comment on the said X post sparked massive controversy as he wrote “The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.”

This derogatory statement about Indians triggered widespread outrage among X users. Netizens not only condemned Rameez's remarks but also pledged to boycott the Maldives while actively promoting Lakshadweep as a preferred holiday destination. While one user predicted tourists footfall decline in Maldives within a year, another wrote, “Brilliant move by Modiji. It's a clear signal Indian tourist should be considering our Island Lakshadweep and Anadaman islands rather than promoting hostile countries like Maldives. You see the result in coming days from travel and revenue point of view. Masterstroke. Jai Hind.”

Twist to the controversy

In a twist to the controversy surrounding Zahid Rameez's insulting remarks against Indians, a user highlighted Rameez's prior application for Indian citizenship in 2023. X user Sandeep Neel shared a screenshot of Rameez's June 28, 2023 post, shedding light on Rameez's previous pursuit of Indian citizenship. He urged the Ministry of External Affairs and Home Ministry to ensure that individuals known for propagating hate are prevented from obtaining Indian citizenship.