Chalo Lakshadweep Controversy: CEO Nishant Pitti stated that EaseMyTrip has halted all reservations for flights to the Maldives as a show of support for India.

In a major move amid the web boycott of the Maldives, EaseMyTrip has chosen to halt all reservations for flights to the Maldives in response to disparaging remarks made by several ministers—who have since resigned—about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his recent visit to Lakshadweep.

In a major move amid the web boycott of the Maldives, EaseMyTrip has chosen to halt all reservations for flights to the Maldives in response to disparaging remarks made by several ministers—who have since resigned—about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his recent visit to Lakshadweep.

Nishant, Rikant, and Prashant Pitti started EaseMyTrip in 2008; the company is based in New Delhi.

Prashant Pitti stated in a post dated January 4 that the beaches and water of Lakshadweep are on par with the Maldives and Seychelles. We, at @EaseMyTrip, will devise incredible promotional deals to highlight this stunning location that our Prime Minister, @narendramodi, recently visited!

The hashtag #BoycottMaldives gained popularity on social media during the spat between India and the Maldives, leading many Indian travelers to reportedly start postponing their planned trips to the island nation.

Following a backlash in which India brought up the issue, the Maldivian government banned three deputy ministers on Sunday for making disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Modi on social media. Male and the island nation’s leading opposition leaders also criticized the ruling establishment for the controversy.

Modi’s post on ‘X’ after his visit to Lakshadweep drew criticism from the three deputy ministers, who suggested that it was an attempt to position the Union territory as a tourism destination that could rival the Maldives.

Deputy ministers in the youth ministry Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid have been suspended due to their posts, according to many Maldivian media sites that quoted officials. On the day that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu left on a seven-day visit to China, the dispute broke out.

Ibrahim Khaleel, a spokesman for the Maldives president, stated, “All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately.”

On condition of anonymity, those with knowledge of the situation stated that the Indian side had complained to the Maldives about the disparaging comments.

In a post on X after his recent visit to Lakshadweep, Modi praised the “stunning beauty” of the islands and the “incredible warmth” of its people, writing, “Lakshadweep has to be on your list for those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them.”

This led to several social media posts advising Indian tourists to visit Lakshadweep rather than the Maldives due to the Male government’s pro-China stance. In addition to defying expectations, Muizzu, who took office in November of last year, recently declared that he will first visit China before moving on to India. While Muizzu’s first bilateral visit was to Turkey, Maldivian presidents often make their first stop in New Delhi.

Response of Indian Celebrities

The ministers’ comments have caused controversy in India, where several well-known figures have urged viewers of Channel X to visit their own country rather than go to the Maldives.

Several celebrities, including cricket star Sachin Tendulkar and actors Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, encouraged people to travel to coastal areas and “Indian islands.”

In social media tweets, Virendra Sehwag, Venkatesh Prasad, Akshay Kumar, cricketer Hardik Pandya, and other former players denounced the three ministers’ “racist” and “hateful” remarks about X.

Maldivian Foreign Ministry statement

According to the foreign ministry of the Maldives, the government is aware of “derogatory remarks” made against foreign leaders on social media, but the remarks are personal opinions and do not reflect the government’s stance.

“Authorities in Maldives on Sunday suspended three deputy ministers who have come under fire for their posts on ‘X’ in which they are seen verbally abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India,” according to the Atoll Times.

SOURCE: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/easemytrip-suspends-all-maldives-flight-bookings-amid-row-over-anti-pm-modi-posts-chalo-lakshadweep-101704671997211.html