Mariyam Shiuna, a Maldivian politician who was suspended earlier this year for social media posts targeting India’s political leadership, has issued a formal apology following fresh controversy over an alleged disrespect to the Indian Tricolour in a recent post.
In her statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Shiuna expressed her “sincerest apologies” for any confusion or offense caused by the content of her recent post. She clarified that the image used in the post, which bore a resemblance to the Indian flag, was entirely unintentional, and she pledged to be more vigilant in verifying content before sharing it in the future.
The suspended deputy minister, belonging to President Mohamed Muizzu’s ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), emphasized the value of Maldives’ relationship with India and the mutual respect shared between the two nations. She stated that the post was intended as a critique of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections on April 21.
The deleted post, which targeted an MDP campaign poster, reportedly replaced the party’s logo with an image resembling the Ashok Chakra, a symbol on the Indian flag. This incident comes amidst tensions between the Muizzu government and India, with the former perceived as anti-India and pro-China.
Earlier in January, Shiuna, along with two colleagues, was suspended by the Maldivian government over remarks regarding India’s promotion of Lakshadweep islands as a tourist destination. The comments were seen as a source of friction between the two countries.
The apology from Shiuna underscores the importance of diplomatic relations between Maldives and India, highlighting the need for sensitivity and discretion in public discourse, particularly in the age of social media.
