Amid the diplomatic row with Maldives, the island nation's former Defence Minister has hit out at the current administration, calling India its '911 call'. Mariya Ahmed Didi, the nation's first-ever female Minister of Defence, said the derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrate the "short-sightedness" of the Maldives government.
Didi said India has been a reliable ally, assisting in various sectors, including defence, and criticised any attempt to undermine the longstanding relationship. "It is the short-sightedness on the part of the present administration. We are a small country who are friends with all, but we cannot deny that we share borders with India. We share similar security concerns. India has always helped us. They have been helping us even in the defence sector with capacity building, providing us with equipment, and trying to make us more self-sufficient," Mariya Ahmed Didi said.
She also added that both countries were like-minded in their quest for democracy and respect for human rights.
Besides Didi, Maldives MP Mikael Naseem also called on the Parliament to summon the foreign minister for the inaction and lack of urgency shown by the Maldives government in the incident. "Have formally requested the Parliament to summon the Foreign Minister for questioning following the inaction and lack of urgency shown by GoM regarding derogatory remarks against PM Modi by its senior officials. The request was also sent to summon said officials to the parliamentary committee,” the MP of Galolhu Dhekunu posted on X.
This comes as a row broke out over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The PM shared several pictures, including an ‘exhilarating experience’ of him trying his hand at snorkelling, which triggered a massive controversy.
Meanwhile, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) condemned the derogatory comments made by some Deputy Ministers on social media platforms, directed towards the Prime Minister and the people of India.