Maldives Minister Suspended for Anti-Modi Remark, Faces Backlash Over Mocking Indian Flag; Issues Apology

Maldives Minister Faces Backlash Over Mocking Indian Flag: She apologized for allegedly disrespecting the Indian flag in her social media post after facing intense backlash from Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's People's National Congress party.

According to Maldivian local media, she has mocked the Indian flag after including parts of it in an altered campaign poster of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who suspended her in January after making derogatory remarks about Modi. The incident has not yet been responded to by New Delhi.

Shiuna replaced the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) logo in the campaign poster with a symbol resembling the Ashok Chakra on the Tricolour in order to mock the opposition party.

I would like to address a recent social media post of mine that has garnered attention and criticism .I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post.

It was brought to my attention that the image used in my response to the…

— Mariyam Shiuna (@shiuna_m) April 8, 2024

As a result of Shiuna's post, Indian social media users called on President Muizzu to take stern action against her.

Outrage has ensued following her post, which was deleted shortly thereafter.

“I would like to address a recent social media post of mine that has garnered attention and criticism. I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post,” Shiuna, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

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“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,” the suspended minister of Maldives further said.

Maldives deeply values its relationship and mutual respect with India. In the future, I will be more vigilant in verifying the content I share to prevent such oversights," she wrote.

She denied mocking India by using the Indian flag design "by mistake."

In advance of the Maldives parliamentary elections on April 21, the Indian government didn't respond.

Shiuna's post was sharply criticized on social media. She and two other deputy ministers have been suspended since January.

The Maldives relies heavily on New Delhi for imports and essential commodities like rice and medicine, despite bitter relations and simmering tensions.

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