Suspended Maldives Minister's Deleted Tricolour Post Sparks Outrage - Here's What We Know

An apology has been issued by suspended Maldives Minister Mariyam Shiuna following outrage sparked by a social media post in which an image allegedly disrespecting the Indian national flag was shared.

The post, which has since been deleted, depicted an opposition party's campaign poster where the party's logo had been replaced with the Ashok Chakra on the Tricolour, ahead of parliamentary elections in the island nation.

Notably, the now-deleted social media post was used by Mariyam Shiuna, a member of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's ruling party, to call for a vote for her party.

Maldives Minister's Deleted Tricolour Post Sparks Outrage

The post by the Maldivian Minister triggered severe backlash from Indian social media users, who stridently called for President Muizzu to take stern action against Shiuna. In the wake of the furore, the post was deleted by Shiuna before an apology was tendered.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, she wrote, "I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offence caused by the content of my recent post. It was brought to my attention that the image used in my response to the Maldivian opposition party MDP bore a resemblance to the Indian flag. I want to make it clear that this was entirely unintentional, and I sincerely regret any misunderstanding it may have caused."

It was stated by Shiuna that the relationship with India is deeply valued and respected by the Maldives. Amidst a diplomatic row between India and the Maldives, which was initiated after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep in January 2024, the beauty of Lakshadweep was promoted by PM Modi on social media, which led to disparaging remarks from Maldivian officials, including Shiuna, towards India and the Prime Minister, as reported by India Today.

Despite the tensions, India remains a crucial economic partner for the Maldives, serving as a major source of imports and a key provider of essential commodities like rice and medicine for the island nation. The quota to import essential commodities to Male for the coming year was recently renewed by New Delhi.

However, recent events indicate a growing anti-India sentiment in the Maldives, particularly among those campaigning on an "India Out" platform due to concerns about India's military presence and influence. Meanwhile, China's investment and influence in the Maldives continue to increase, further complicating the dynamic for India, reported India Today.

The withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed there was recently requested by the Maldives, sparking discussions between the two nations towards finding a "mutually workable solution". Last month, the first batch of Indian personnel was exited from the Maldives, with the deadline for complete withdrawal set for May.