The suspensions of Deputy Youth Ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Mahzoom Majid and Malsha Shareef over the mockery of Indian Prime Narendra Modi on social media are indefinite but all three will continue to receive salaries, the President's Office has said.
The government suspended the three deputy ministers amid a campaign against Maldives tourism in India backed by Bollywood stars. Many flight and hotel bookings have been canceled due to the campaign, according to Indian newspapers.
As the row escalated, the Maldives ambassador in India was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry on Monday morning. The Indian High Commissioner in the Maldives went to the Foreign Ministry in Malé at noon on Monday.
Providing further information about the suspensions, President's Office Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel told Adhadhu that the three deputy ministers were suspended indefinitely as a measure taken to look into the matter.
"They will be paid under the normal process in the past where ministers and deputies were paid when they were suspended. They were suspended from going to work and performing the duties of their posts," said Khaleel, who is currently in China.
Asked about social media posts made by the deputy ministers after their suspensions, Khaleel said the President's Office did not have any comment.
The tourism industry, including the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), has also been expressing concern over pressures faced due to the mockery and insulting of India and the country's Prime Minister. The Maldives Foreign Ministry also condemned the remarks.
"These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," the Foreign Ministry said.
Local politicians also condemned the disparaging remarks against Modi, including opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairman Fayyaz Ismail, former President Mohamed Nasheed and Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) leader Faris Maumoon.
