Narendra Modi labelled a ‘clown’ for Maldives holiday pictures

Three officials suspended after abusing the Indian prime minister when he posted pictures of idyllic trip
Amrit Dhillon
, New Delhi
The Times
The Indian prime minister posted pictures of his trip to Lakshadweep, in the Indian Ocean, on Twitter/X describing early morning walks along the “pristine beaches” as “moments of pure bliss”
The Indian prime minister posted pictures of his trip to Lakshadweep, in the Indian Ocean, on Twitter/X describing early morning walks along the “pristine beaches” as “moments of pure bliss”
Amrit Dhillon
, New Delhi
The Times

When Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, posted pictures of himself on the tropical island of Lakshadweep, gazing at the azure sea and trying out snorkelling, he could not have anticipated an ugly backlash.

Yet the photos prompted a personal attack from government ministers in the neighbouring Maldives who called Modi a “clown”, “terrorist” and “puppet of Israel”, and said more generally that Indians “smell”.

The comments have prompted calls for a boycott of the islands from prominent Indian celebrities, and a diplomatic row concerning China. In the fallout, the Maldives government announced that it had suspended three deputy ministers for the disparaging remarks about its powerful neighbour.

Modi tried snorkelling
Modi tried snorkelling

The problems started when Modi visited Lakshadweep, an archipelago off the southwest coast of India last week.