The Maldivian high commissioner to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb, faced a terse summons from the external affairs ministry on Monday. He was confronted over derogatory remarks posted on social media by three junior ministers in President Muizzu's government, directed at PM Narendra Modi. India emphasized that the responsibility for repairing bilateral relations now rests with President Muizzu.
During the brief meeting, India pressed that the three junior ministers responsible for the offensive remarks should be dismissed, not merely suspended.
Further, the MEA expressed deep concern and outrage over President Muizzu's silence regarding the inappropriate behavior of the three junior ministers, particularly the two female ministers who act as spokespersons for the President. MEA is wondering whether the junior ministers were deliberately instructed to cause this outrage on the eve of President Muizzu's visit to China to seek funds from President Xi Jinping.