PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit: The islands’ incredible beauty
Lakshadweep has a Muslim majority and is strategically located next to a nation that is becoming closer to China; these are important characteristics before the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
Inspired by the breathtaking scenery of Lakshadweep, Prime Minister Modi promoted the archipelago as a must-visit location for Indian tourists. This was his first trip of 2024, marking the start of the BJP’s pre-election ‘Mission South’.
Echoing Prime Minister Modi’s tourism promotion in Lakshadweep, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the archipelago’s “mesmerizing beaches, blue water lagoons and much more”.
“Lakshadweep has enormous potential to grow into a popular travel destination worldwide. Thank you to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji for promoting Lakshadweep. This would undoubtedly increase tourism and the local economy, raising people’s quality of living,” Amit Shah wrote on X.
There was more to PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep than first met the eye, though.
“VOCAL FOR LOCAL”
“Lakshadweep is a tribute to the soul of its people and an everlasting legacy of traditions, not just a collection of islands. “My visit has been a rewarding experience of growth and learning,” PM Modi wrote on X.
In terms of tourism, Lakshadweep is batting in line with the Prime Minister’s pitch for picking Indian locations for travel and weddings. Back in November of last year, he questioned the tendency of “big families” to plan weddings overseas and pushed for domestic weddings as part of “Wed in India.”
“Even those in poverty will share your wedding with their kids. Is it possible to broaden the scope of “Vocal for Local”? He questioned, “Why don’t we have these kinds of wedding ceremonies in our own nation?” at the 107th Mann ki Baat.
In his speech at the Uttarakhand Investors’ Summit in Dehradun last month, he reiterated his appeal, calling on Indians to plan at least “one destination wedding” in the hill state of the Himalayas. Similar to ‘Make in India,’ he suggested that a new movement called ‘Wed in India’ get underway, encouraging young people to get married in India while showcasing the nation’s strengths.
“Lakshadweep must be on your list if you want to embrace your inner explorer. I attempted snorkeling while I was here, and it was an amazing experience “On Thursday, PM Modi said on X.
GEOPOLITICAL BENEFIT
The prime minister’s promotion of Lakshadweep as a tourist destination may also be interpreted as a jab at India’s neighbor, the Maldives, which is well-liked by Indians for its beaches. There are around 1,200 islands in the Maldives, but only roughly 100 of them are inhabited. Numerous islands are well-known for their tourism.
More crucially, Maldives’ increasing proximity to China has raised concerns about its ‘anti-India’ stance.
The Maldives, led by recently elected President Mohamed Muizzu, formally asked India to remove its military forces from the island nation on November 18 of last year. Muizzu declared his unwavering commitment to keeping his nation “free” of any “foreign military presence” to protect its independence and sovereignty. The president of the Maldives declared in December 2023 that India has consented to remove its armed forces.
Before being elected to power, Muizzu used this as his main campaign weapon.
China and Muizzu’s party have close relations, and in recent years, China’s influence in the island nation has become more apparent. China has allegedly leased up to ten islands in the Maldives, where it is also reportedly stationing ships and carrying out extensive military exercises. In addition, China wants to dock its Yuan Wang series “research survey vessel” in the Maldives so that it can begin deepwater exploration in the Southern Indian Ocean this month. A free trade pact between China and the Maldives has also been discussed.
India will suffer if these were accepted by the Muizzo-led administration currently in power.
Putting more of an emphasis on Lakshadweep might benefit India because of its strategic location, which would give it an advantage over Chinese efforts in the Maldives.
MUSLIM VOTER
In his speech in Lakshadweep, Prime Minister Modi extended his greetings to the majority Muslim inhabitants of the archipelago. He discussed measures taken by his BJP government for Haj Yatris, which have helped the Lakshadweep people. The Prime Minister also mentioned that a notable rise in Indians performing Umrah has been observed as a result of the simplified Haj visa application procedure, digitization of the paperwork, and approval for women to perform the Haj without a “Mehram.”
“Despite the small size of the region, the inhabitants of Lakshadweep have enormous hearts. I am very grateful for all of the kindness and blessings I am experiencing here. During his remarks, Prime Minister Modi said, “I want to thank all of you.”
This demonstrated the Prime Minister’s outreach to Muslims not only in Kerala but also in Lakshadweep before the Lok Sabha elections. Kerala is a major source of commodities and economic support for Lakshadweep, and the two states have tight links. It is possible that PM Modi attempted to court Muslim voters from Kerala and the Union territory with his speech to the predominantly Muslim community of Lakshadweep before the election.
SOURCE: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-lakshadweep-visit-snorkelling-key-factors-2024-lok-sabha-elections-maldives-china-ties-muslim-voters-kerala-tourist-destination-2484513-2024-01-05
