National Conference (NC) patriarch Farooq Abdullah has issued expressed confusion over Maldivian ministers and government officials’ criticism of Narendra Modi. Abdullah says that anti-Muslim feelings may be a factor in the controversy.
Farooq Abdullah, the patriarch of the National Conference (NC), was perplexed by the Maldivian leaders’ reaction given New Delhi’s support for the island nation in recent years and its prevention of foreign occupation.
National Conference (NC) patriarch Farooq Abdullah said on Tuesday that growing hatred against Muslims in the country may have contributed to Maldivian ministers and government officials’ offensive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said he didn’t understand why the Maldivian leaders reacted as they did after New Delhi stood with the island nation for years and stopped it from being overrun.
“India has always supported the Maldives. When a foreign power threatened to take the country, our forces saved the people and returned them home without occupying any land. I don’t know what started this controversy. Has rising Muslim hostility in the country contributed to this? Lok Sabha MP: Only the foreign minister can answer.
China’s influence in the Indian Ocean and subcontinent is growing. The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh show it. Our government is trying to settle issues through conversation, but China must show the appropriate intent to make progress. India and China might be friends again, like under (Jawaharlal) Nehru’s Panchsheel pact “Abdullah stated.
Sharad Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), supported PM Modi, stating it was unacceptable for a foreign leader to make such remarks. “He is our Prime Minister and if a leader in any other country makes such comments about him, we won’t tolerate them,” Pawar told a Mumbai press conference on Tuesday.
The NCP patriarch remarked, “Even other leaders must respect the PM’s status. We won’t tolerate foreign criticism of the PM.” However, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said PM Modi has taken everything ‘personally’ since taking office in 2014.
He stressed India’s need for good relations with neighbors, saying, “Since Narendra Modi took power, he’s taken matters personally. We should maintain good neighbor relations. Since we can’t alter our neighbors, we should adapt.”
Maldivian junior ministers and government officials criticized PM Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and his call to promote the island cluster as a beach tourism destination, sparking a big issue.
Even as scores of netizens raged, New Delhi summoned the Maldivian embassy to denounce the offensive social media messages. The remarks also caused a wave of island country travel cancellations.
Conclusion
National Conference (NC) patriarch Farooq Abdullah is confused at Maldivian ministers and government officials’ criticism of Narendra Modi. Abdullah questioned Maldivian officials’ conduct and the country’s growing intolerance of Muslims. He also noted China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean and subcontinent, saying India is seeking to settle issues through diplomacy. Sharad Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), defended PM Modi, saying a foreign leader making such remarks was unacceptable. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Modi for taking things personally since 2014. The dispute began when Maldivian junior ministers and government officials criticized Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and his call to develop the island cluster as a beach tourism destination.