Fact Check: Anti-Modi protests in Maldives are not related to fresh row with India

There have been claims circulating on social media platforms suggesting that there were protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Maldives. Telugupost tried to fact check the assertion and provide an accurate account of the events surrounding the row.

A controversy erupted after Maldivian politicians, including minister Mariyam Shiuna, mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. Shiuna, the Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment in the Maldives, called PM Modi a 'clown' and 'puppet of Israel' in now-deleted posts on X (formerly known as Twitter). The tweets were taken down after backlash on the micro-blogging site.

Another Maldivian leader and a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate Zahid Rameez made comments ridiculing the beaches of Lakshadweep Island and raising doubts about whether the services offered by India's Union Territory could compare to those provided by the Maldives. "The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall," Rameez wrote on X. The comments triggered a widespread outrage with several social media posts claiming that over 8,000 hotel bookings, as well as 2,500 flight tickets to the Maldives have been cancelled.

The diplomatic rift between India and Maldives, coupled with the suspension of flight bookings on one of India’s major travel portals, has sent jitters down the spine of tour operators in the island nation.

The Maldivian Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), a forum for travel agents, has stressed that the Indian market is important to the success of tourism in Maldives. Witnessing the war on social media, Bollywood & Tollywod celebrities also cancelled their trip to Maldives. Actor Nagarjuna cancelled his Maldives trip and is reportedly planning to go to Lakshadweep in next week.

Fact Check :

After careful observation of various sources and reports, it has been found that that the claim of protests against Narendra Modi during his visit to the Maldives is not supported by credible evidence. There is no verified information or reputable news source confirming any organized protests or demonstrations against the Indian Prime Minister, during his visit to the Maldives.

Also, we found the same video posted by X user @RazzanMDV on June 29, 2023 in Indiaout Movement.

ABP Live

A report on ABP Live referred to a post on X from June 2023, which included a 23-second video accompanied by the caption ''#IndiaOut.'' This video corresponds precisely to the visuals starting at around 53 seconds in the viral footage.

In the video, three individuals wearing Modi masks, one with a garland made of slippers, are leading a group of protesters waving green and red flags. Additionally, a man in a black. T-shirt and blue jeans can be observed in the frame. The YouTube video published in July 2023 featured visuals from the viral video, reporting that the Maldivian government initiated damage control following the "India Out" campaign by the country's opposition during Eid-Al-Adha.

Conclusion :

Based on the available evidence, there is no substantiated information confirming protests against Narendra Modi in Maldives. It is crucial for individuals to exercise caution and critically evaluate information before sharing it on social media.

False claims can contribute to the spread of misinformation and undermine the credibility of news sources. In this case, the narrative of protests against Narendra Modi in Maldives lacks credibility and should be treated with skepticism until verified by reliable sources.