Highlights on Maldives row: MakeMyTrip launches 'Beaches of India' campaign

Highlights on Lakshadweep issue: Catch all the latest developments on the India-Maldives row here

Highlights on Maldives row:  After a rise of 3,400 per cent increase in searches for Lakshadweep on its platform, MakeMyTrip announced the launch of its "Beaches of India" campaign today. Searches for the island shot up following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Union Territory on January 2 and 3. EaseMyTrip had suspended all its flight bookings to the Maldives after derogatory remarks made by ministers against Prime Minister Narandra Modi over his recent visit to Lakshadweep. CEO Nishant Pitti  wrote on his social media page on X  on Sunday evening , "In solidarity with our nation, EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings."  

The Maldives government on Sunday had suspended three ministers in response to derogatory comments toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mariyam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef, both deputy ministers of youth empowerment, information and arts, and Hassan Zihan, deputy minister of transport and civil aviation been suspended, for disrespectful remarks against PM Modi, who was visiting Lakshadweep.

Maldives' Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer said that these remarks against foreign leaders are "unacceptable" and do not reflect the official position of the Maldives government. He said that the Maldives remains committed to fostering a "positive and constructive dialogue" with all its partners, particularly its neighbours.

A massive row originated after a Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging  references to PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep.

In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi over his visit to Lakshadweep.

5:50 PM

Maldives row: Amitabh Bachchan shares appreciation for Lakshadweep, calls it 'astonishingly beautiful'

Amid the ongoing diplomatic row with the Maldives, Amitabh Bachchan shared his appreciation for the Indian island a post on social media platform X. This happened a day after actors joined hands to promote Lakshadweep as a tourist destination. 

 

The actor shared a post on X by former cricketer Virendra Sehwag where the retired batter had slammed the "dig at our country and our Prime Minister by Maldives ministers".

 

"We are Bharat. We are Atmanirbhar. Our self-reliance should not be questioned. Jai hind," Bachchan wrote on X.

4:41 PM

After 3,400% rise in searches for Lakshadweep, MakeMyTrip launches 'Beaches of India' campaign

MakeMyTrip announced the launch of its "Beaches of India" campaign today following a rise of 3,400 per cent increase in searches for Lakshadweep on its platform. Searches for the island rose dramatically following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Union Territory on January 2 and 3.

4:30 PM

Israel expresses support for Lakshadweep amid India-Maldives diplomatic row

4:26 PM

India has diversity of tourist spots, business of Indians must be strengthened, says MoS Meenakashi Lekhi

3:45 PM

India will never tolerate such an insult: Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Khoda Patel on India-Maldives row

Lakshadweep's administrator dismissed talk of demanding a public apology from Maldives, pointing out the ministers who made the comments had been disciplined, NDTV reported today.

 

Thanking the people of India for standing by the prime minister and Lakshadweep,  Patel told NDTV that India will never tolerate such an insult and the whole country expressed solidarity with PM Modi. 

2:56 PM

Remarks against PM Modi do not represent views of Maldives, Male official tells Indian envoy

The Maldivian government today informed India's High Commissioner Munu Muhawar that the derogatory remarks made by three now-suspended deputy ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not represent the views of the nation. The Indian High Commissioner met Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry, according to reports. Moreover, the Maldivian foreign ministry has also cleared that the government is aware of "derogatory remarks" on social media platforms against foreign leaders and that the personal views do not represent its position. The meeting came after India summoned Maldivian envoy Ibrahim Shaheeb on Monday to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks posted on social media against the Prime Minister by a number of ministers of the Maldives.

2:53 PM

Vistara airlines to monitor demand for flights amid India-Maldives row

Amid the India-Maldives row, Vistara Airlines today announced that it will monitor the demand for flights between the two countries as the "situation is evolving right now". Vistara operates one flight each daily from Mumbai and Delhi to Male. Airline's Chief Commercial Officer Deepak Rajawat said it has not cancelled anything as of now and will monitor the demand for flights. "The situation is very evolving right now... we will have to monitor in a week or so," he said at a briefing in response to queries about the Maldives situation.

1:28 PM

Indian High Commissioner held talks with Maldives' ambassador at large on diplomatic row

1:19 PM

India-Maldives row: Want establish 'nation first and business later', says co-founder of EaseMyTrip

12:24 PM

India-Maldives row: EaseMyTrip suspends flight bookings to Maldives over remarks against PM Modi

Travel portal EaseMyTrip has suspended all its flight bookings to the Maldives after the derogatory remarks made by ministers against Indian Prime Minister Narandra Modi over his recent visit to Lakshadweep. More details here.

11:46 AM

India-Maldives row: Maldivian envoy seen at MEA office, Delhi, amid controversy over remarks against PM Modi

 

11:41 AM

Committed to fostering dialogue with all partners: Maldives Foreign Minister amid remarks against PM Modi

Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer  today said that derogatory remarks against foreign leaders are "unacceptable" and do not reflect the official position of the Maldives government.

 

In a post shared on X,  Zameer said that Maldives committed to fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with all our partners, especially our neighbours, based on mutual respect and understanding."

11:32 AM

India summons Maldives' envoy amid row over remarks against PM Modi

 

India today summoned Maldives High Commissioner Ibrahim Shaheeb today amid the ongoing row over the comments of the island nation's ministers on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A massive row occured after a Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made  unsavoury remarks on PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep.