EaseMyTrip

1. EaseMyTrip, a major Indian online travel agency, suspends Maldives flight bookings.
2. Founder Nishant Pitti cites the decision as “in solidarity with our nation.”
3. Controversy arose over derogatory social media posts against PM Narendra Modi.

Kavaratti, Jan 08: EaseMyTrip, a prominent Indian online travel agency, has decided to suspend all flight bookings to the Maldives following a controversy involving derogatory social media posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The decision, announced by EaseMyTrip founder Nishant Pitti in a tweet on Monday, was made “in solidarity with our nation.”

Nishant Pitti tweeted, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings. #TravelUpdate #SupportingNation.”

The controversy emerged when three Maldives ministers were suspended by the Maldivian government for sharing offensive remarks against PM Modi in response to his visit to Lakshadweep.

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The suspended ministers, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, faced consequences after India raised the issue with the Maldives government.

Mariyam Shiuna, one of the suspended ministers, had referred to PM Modi as a “clown” and “puppet” in now-deleted social media posts after the Prime Minister shared images of his Lakshadweep visit, promoting the island as a tourist destination for Indians.

The derogatory tweets were removed following widespread backlash from Indians on social media.

Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, in a now-deleted post, commented on PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit, expressing concerns about India explicitly targeting the Maldives and questioning the diplomatic nature of such actions.

As the controversy unfolded, Zahid Rameez, an MP from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, also made mocking remarks about PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit, leading to comparisons with the Maldives.

The Maldives government clarified that the derogatory remarks against PM Modi did not represent the views of Male, and in response, several Indians declared the cancellation of their trips to the Maldives. The hashtag ‘#BoycottMaldives’ gained traction on social media.

The controversy also caught the attention of celebrities such as Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut, who engaged in discussions about PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep. The situation underscores the intersection of social media, diplomacy, and public sentiment in the digital age.