While Indians throng to Lakshadweep, Congress MP Adhir finds politics in Maldives row

New Delhi: Day after the Maldives government suspended three minister over derogatory remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday said that the fact that Maldives is choosing China over India is "concerning." "Our relationship with the Maldives is getting hampered today. Till today, Maldives has always preferred India over China, but now it is choosing China and that is a concerning topic for us," said the senior Congress leader. 

In the now-deleted post, one of the suspended ministers Shiuna had called PM Modi a “clown” and a “puppet.” Fearing Lakshadweep's growing popularity over Maldives after PM Modi's trip, many Maldivian ministers and politicians tried downplaying the visit.

Even as the current and the former Maldivian dispensation stood by India after the insensitive remarks, the veteran Congress leader tried politicising the row, hinting at India's inability to deal with the Chinese influence in Maldives. Talking exclusively to Republic, former Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb said, "The incident should have never happened and should not be repeated. The government should be strict with their decisions and more aware. We can't forget how India helped us in order to pull up our tourism industry. The government should have been careful”.

“With the new President (Mohamed Muizzu) taking over the leadership, activism has been increased in the government as well as in the industrial sectors. We must be more careful and friendly towards our neighbours especially countries like India who has helped us in the past," he added.