The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) activist Mariyam Shiuna has said that she mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in defence of the country.

Shiuna defended the act in response to a comment on a post she made on social media X.

Last Friday, in a post on X with a photo of a Maahefun (pre-Ramadan feast) held by some opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members in Hulhumale' Phase 2, Shiuna questioned how MDP was allowed to hold such a gathering without permission.

An account under the name Imthiyaz Hamdhi commented on the post, questioning Shiuna, whose permission she had to insult diplomats and cause billions of dollars in damage to the country.

Responding to the comment, Shiuna said she defended the country, and she has nothing more to say.

Shiuna mocked Modi after he posted videos and photos on social media showing the beauty of the Indian islands of Lakshadweep during his visit to the area on January 2 and 3, 2024.

Indian political commenters on X characterized Modi's video as a threat to Maldives tourism. An account named "Mister Sinha" called the current Maldives government "a Chinese puppet" and suggested that the video would boost tourist arrivals to Lakshadweep.

The tweet prompted responses from senior officials in defense of the government. Some individuals mocked Modi and used obscene language from verified accounts of top government officials, including Deputy Youth Ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid.

In a tweet that she has since deleted, Shiuna called Modi a "joker" and "puppet of Israel." Such tweets on official accounts of government officials completely disregard bilateral ties between the countries, Indian accounts noted.

Shiuna, Malsha and Mahzoom Majid were later suspended.

However, while in suspension, Shiuna again insulted the Indian flag. She later apologised.

These actions deteriorated the relations between the two countries and the number of Indian tourists saw a significant drop.

Malsha and Shiuna were on suspension without pay and took their salaries for months without doing any work. During that period, each of them received a total of MVR 252,000 as salary.

Shiuna and Malsha resigned on September 10, 2024.

Malsha has since been appointed as an assistant director of Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Shiuna has been given a senior job at Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).