Defense News

India ,Maldives

Maldives Minister Mariyam Shiuna has issued an apology following a social media post that sparked outrage for allegedly disrespecting the Indian national flag. The post, which has since been deleted, featured an image replacing an opposition party's logo with the Ashok Chakra on the Tricolour ahead of parliamentary elections in the Maldives.

Shiuna, who belongs to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's ruling party, used the now-deleted post to call for support for her party. However, it triggered severe backlash from Indian social media users, prompting Shiuna to remove the post and issue an apology.

In her apology, Shiuna expressed regret for any confusion or offense caused by the post, emphasizing that the resemblance to the Indian flag was unintentional. She also reaffirmed Maldives' respect for India and the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.

This incident comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives, which escalated after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep in January 2024. The visit led to disparaging remarks from Maldivian officials towards India and Prime Minister Modi.

Despite the tensions, India remains a vital economic partner for the Maldives, providing essential commodities like rice and medicine. However, there is a growing anti-India sentiment in the Maldives, particularly among groups advocating for India's military personnel withdrawal due to concerns about its influence.

China's increasing investment and influence in the Maldives further complicate the situation for India. The Maldives recently requested the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed there, with discussions underway between the two nations to find a mutually acceptable solution.