Suspended deputy minister apologizes for fresh India insult

Deputy Youth Minister Maryam Shiuna, who was suspended for making derogatory remarks about India, has been forced to apologize after being involved in another insulting post about India

Shiuna is among three deputy ministers suspended in January for insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India. They were suspended after many people began calling for their removal from office, condemned for making such unsuitable remarks as representatives of a government.

This time, it was a post containing the Indian national flag and the logo of the ruling party shared and linked to opposition MDP.

The post was posted on Shiuna's X last Saturday, criticizing the MDP's slogan meaning 'direction to the right path' in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Shiuna had posted an image where the MDP’s slogan depicting a compass pointing towards the party logo, had been edited to show instead:

Shiuna made such a post on social media while India has allowed Maldives to export basic food items for the coming year at the request of the Maldivian government.

Shiuna's post has been criticised, and she has deleted it and has apologised since. The apology posted on Monday said that she had not realised the Indian flag had been in the image and that it was not intentional.

She wrote that she regrets and apologises for any conflict or dissatisfaction that may result from it. She added that Maldives respects the relationship between Maldives and India.

"I will be careful to verify the content I share in the future to avoid such conflicts," she concluded.

This is the second time such an issue has arisen, that too while being suspended. The government is yet to clarify why no further action has been taken since her suspension, as she stays home with pay.