Mariyam Shiuna, a Maldivian politician who was suspended earlier this year for social media posts targeting Indian political leadership, has found herself in hot water once again. This time, Shiuna has offered “sincerest apologies” for a fresh post that allegedly disrespected the Indian Tricolour.
The suspended deputy minister clarified that she did not intend to disrespect India or the country’s national flag. She explained that the image used in the post bore a resemblance to the Indian flag, but it was entirely unintentional. Shiuna has since deleted the controversial post and vowed to be more vigilant in verifying the content she shares to prevent such oversights in the future.
In the deleted post, Shiuna took a jibe at the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) by replacing their logo with what looks like the Ashok Chakra, which is a symbol on the Indian flag. The post criticized the MDP’s campaign and stated, “The MDP is heading towards a big slip. The people of Maldives do not want to fall and slip with them.”
This incident comes after Shiuna and two colleagues were suspended by the Maldivian government earlier this year for anti-India remarks. The ministers’ comments stemmed from their perception of Indian leadership promoting the Lakshadweep islands as a tourist destination that rivals the Maldives.
Despite the controversy, Shiuna emphasized the importance of the relationship and mutual respect between Maldives and India. The archipelago nation is set to hold parliamentary elections on April 21, and Shiuna’s actions have once again stirred diplomatic tensions.