In response to the controversy sparked by tweets from now-suspended Maldives government deputy ministers – they made offensive social media posts on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India in general following the PM’s endorsement of Lakshadweep as a tourist destination – Indian business leaders questioned why Indian tourists ‘pay so much’ for the island nation, despite destinations such as Lakshadweep and Andaman in the country itself.
Meanwhile, travel website EaseMyTrip reported that it was suspending all airline bookings to the archipelago.
The Maldives deputy ministers’ statements enraged not just Indians, including athletes and actors, with several canceling their reservations; they were also denounced by Maldivian officials.
Maldives has shifted toward China in recent years.
In a crucial move during the internet boycott Maldives movement, EaseMyTrip has chosen to stop all Maldives airline reservations in response to insulting statements made by several ministers, who have already been suspended, about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Lakshadweep.
In sympathy with India, Nishant Pitti, co-founder and CEO of the Indian online travel firm, turned to social network X (formerly Twitter) and stated, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”
