Earlier this month, remarks made by the Maldives’ deputy minister and a few other ministers regarding India’s nationality gave rise to a great deal of controversy. In light of the current controversy surrounding anti-Indian comments made by certain Maldivian ministers, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has advised Indian filmmakers not to film any films in the Maldives. In a video message, Suresh Shyamlal, the president of the Cine Workers’ Association, urged the film industry to promote Indian islands rather than travel to the island nation for vacations. On Sunday, he made his request, one day after the Maldives government requested that India remove its military personnel from its islands by March 15.
By March 15, the Maldives government had requested that the Indian government remove the Indian Army from its islands. A few days prior, certain ministers from the Maldives made offensive remarks about our prime minister, Narendra Modi. Following this, an Indian trend of boycotting the Maldives was initiated. In the video, Shyamlal expressed his appeal to the Indian film industry to refrain from filming in the Maldives and to discourage people from taking vacation there. He held the position of president of the All India Cine Worker Association. Don’t post anything about the Maldives on your social media accounts, he continued. India has a number of islands; please highlight them.
We shall oppose anyone who acts against the interests of the nation. The president of AICWA stated, “We can withstand anything and everything, but not something that goes against our country. Earlier this month, a huge controversy broke out when the Maldivian deputy minister and a few other ministers made racist remarks directed at India and made fun of Modi’s efforts to market Lakshadweep as a travel destination. Indians took to social media in response to the remarks, and many, including celebrities, joined the call to boycott the island nation. The Maldivian government suspended three ministers, Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid, and released a statement distancing itself from the leader’s disparaging remarks as India pressed the issue with Male.
On Sunday, President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives requested that India remove all of its military personnel stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelago by March 15. This occurred during a meeting in Male between senior officials from the two nations to talk about the problem. Notably, two HAL Dhruv helicopters, two Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft, and about seventy Indian soldiers are currently stationed in the Maldives.
