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Racist comments on India prove costly: ‘Ease my Trip’ cancels flight bookings to Maldives, co-founders urge Indians to visit Ayodhya and Lakshadweep instead

OpIndia Staff
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Racist comments on India prove costly: ‘Ease my Trip’ cancels flight bookings to Maldives, co-founders urge Indians to visit Ayodhya and Lakshadweep instead

Indian online travel company, Ease My Trip, has suspended all flight bookings to Maldives on its platform amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and the island nation.

The development was confirmed by the company’s CEO Nishant Pitti on X (formerly Twitter). In a tweet, he stated, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”

“Embark on a journey with EaseMyTrip to discover the enchanting beauty of Ayodhya and the pristine allure of Lakshadweep! Immerse yourself in rich culture and breathtaking landscapes. Say no to Maldives bookings and explore the wonders of Ayodhya and Lakshadweep,” he further added.

In a statement, co-founder Prashant Pitti said, “Our company is entirely homegrown and made in India. Amid the row over Maldives MP’s post on PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, we have decided that we will not accept any bookings for Maldives…We want Ayodhya and Lakshadweep to turn out as international destinations…”

It must be mentioned that ‘Ease My Trip’ holds an 8.1% market share in all online travel bookings in India. As such, the snub will cost significantly to the tourism industry of Maldives.

A large number of Indians have reportedly cancelled their trips to the Maldives after some Maldivian politicians including Ministers made crass, racist Hinduphobic commentary on Indians and insulting barbs at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Lakshadweep visit.

The recent diplomatic row started when jittery Maldivian social media users and politicians made deplorable comments about PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit. 

The Background of the Controversy

On January 4, PM Narendra Modi shared some pictures of his recent visit to Lakshadweep as he exhorted people to explore the scenic island in what could be seen as a push to his ‘vocal for local’ slogan, and an effort to give a boost to tourism in the island.

Following PM Modi’s tweet posting stunning vistas from the Lakshadweep Islands, several social media users in India called for Indians to visit the place over foreign destinations, including the Maldives, which shares similar geographical characteristics as the Lakshadweep Islands.

That touched off bitter reactions from Maldivian counterparts, including governmental functionaries and prominent citizens, many of whom resorted to making churlish remarks against India, Indians, and the Indian PM.

Screengrab of the tweet by Mariyam Shiuna

Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, recently made insulting remarks against PM Modi, referring to him as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’ after he posted pictures from his visit to Lakshadweep Islands.

“What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with a life jacket #VisitMaldives,” Shiuna tweeted. The post was deleted after backlash on X, formerly known as Twitter, where Indian social media users slammed the Maldives government officials, including Shiuna, for their crass remarks against the Indian Prime Minister.

It is worth noting that PM Modi did not mention the Maldives anywhere in his tweets. Similarly, other officials and prominent personalities too have taken to social media, making obnoxious remarks against India and Indians.

On Friday (5th January), Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) also took to the microblogging site X to mock Indians.

No new inquiry for holidays in Maldives; impact of boycott will be visible in coming days: Indian tour operators

ANI
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No new inquiry for holidays in Maldives; impact of boycott will be visible in coming days: Indian tour operators

Tour operators in India are gearing up for an impact of calls for a cancellation of holidays in the Maldives as they said that there are “no new inquiries by people” for visits to the island nation.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators predicts that the repercussions of recent events and the call for a boycott will become apparent within the next 20-25 days.

However, the operators deny reports of mass cancellations, stating, “If a person has paid an advance for plane tickets and hotels, they will not cancel it.”

Many Indians on social media have claimed that they have cancelled their planned holidays to the island nation.

The founder of Make My Trip, Deep Kalra, said that there has been no mass cancellation of planned holidays by Indians to the island nation.

“We have not noticed such a pattern as of now. There has been no such mass cancellation,” Kalra said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Association of Tour Operators said that the impact of the chain of events and the call for a boycott will be visible in 20-25 days.

“Suddenly, there has been no inquiry on Maldives. There are sudden drops. Those who have made payments will not cancel them. We are expecting that people will not book trips to the Maldives,” Rajiv Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, said.

When asked whether the reports of mass cancellation are true, Mehra replied, “People have spent lakhs of rupees, but they are not cancelling it. Those who have not made payments are expected to back out. But the real impact of the boycott will be visible in the next 25 days as there are no new inquiries.”

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is the national body for the tourism industry. It has over 1600 members, covering all segments of the tourism industry.

Another operator echoed a similar sentiment, stating that such statements by politicians prevent people from choosing a particular nation for a trip.

Moreover, the Maldives was quite popular among Indians as a tourist destination.

Indian tourists were the highest among visitors to the Maldives till December 2023, according to data from the country’s tourism ministry.

The largest number of tourists who visited the Maldives were from India (2,09,198), followed by Russia (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).

“Maldives is quite popular among Indians. But this incident will have an impact. We are also seeing an impact right now as well. We are expecting a downfall in people choosing the Maldives as a tourist destination,” a Delhi-based tour operator said on the condition of anonymity.

The Maldives government on Sunday suspended three ministers over their derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid were suspended over their remarks against PM Modi, which triggered a massive backlash.

Shiuna made derogatory remarks against PM Modi on social media platform X. The post by Shiuna, which has now been deleted, featured images of PM Modi from his recent visit to Lakshadweep. (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Ayodhya Sita Ram Bank: A special bank with no cash, no ATM, makes loan repayment in ‘Ram Naam’ only, has over 130 branches across India

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya Sita Ram Bank: A special bank with no cash, no ATM, makes loan repayment in ‘Ram Naam’ only, has over 130 branches across India

In the heart of Ayodhya, amidst the rising surge in anticipation for the Bhavya Ram Mandir, a unique spiritual bank is garnering the attention of Ram Bhakts (devotees). The International Shri Sita Ram Naam Bank, located in the Mani Ram Ki Chhawni locality in Ram Nagri Ayodhya Dham is not a typical commercial bank. Notably, The Sita Ram Bank has around 136 branches across India.

In fact, Money has no value in this spiritual bank as the transactions are made in Prabhu Shri Ram’s name, transcending the material realm. This unique spiritual bank managed by ardent Ram Bhakts extend conditional loan to only Ram Bhakts which has to be returned in exactly 8 months 10 days. 

(Image Source – Good News Today)

The devotees have to follow certain conditions and cross a certain threshold to open an account in this bank which maintains a ledger on counts of Ram Naam. 

As per the bank’s process, it gives a booklet and pen (preferably Red colour which signifies love/devotion) as loan to people. The booklet is of 30 pages, containing 108 cells in which the devotees have to write ‘Ram Naam’ every day. The booklets have to be deposited in 8 months and 10 days during which the devotees have to write Shri Ram’s name 1.25 lakh times. 

This booklet is deposited in the individual’s account whose credits get reflected accordingly. Apart from Hindi, the devotees can write the name of Lord Ram in Urdu, English, Bengali and other languages as well. A Ram Devotee scbriled Shri Ram’s name over 50 crore times in 15 years and was slated to deposit it in Sita Ram Naam Bank in Ayodhya which has scores of billions of Shri Ram Name inscribed in the bank.

Devotees have to follow certain conditions

After opening an account here, people need to follow some rules. The bank gives account holders red ink and a wooden pen called a kalam. Devotees can only write the name of Lord Ram between 4 am to 7 am. They have to write the name exactly 1.25 lakh times, completing this task within eight months and ten days. During this period, devotees are not allowed to eat non-vegetarian food, as well as food containing onion and garlic. However, the rules may vary as per different branches. 

(Branch in Sonebhadra, Image Source – Amar Ujala)

The chief priest of Nirmohi Akhara, Mahant Ram Das said, “Scribbling ‘Shri Sita Ram’ has always been a popular way of remembering the lord. One need not go to a temple. A businessman can do it sitting in his office, an office-goer can do it at his desk whenever he gets a break and a housewife can do it while doing her daily chores.” 

Sumit Mehrotra, the manager of the Ram Ramapati Bank in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi told ETV Bharat, “My grandfather’s grandfather, Das Channu Lal ji established this bank here around 96 years ago. The name of this bank is Ram Ramapati bank and people mostly confuse it with a commercial bank. People, who do not know much about this bank believe that this bank also offers them loans, but this is a spiritual bank. Money has no value. This bank does not accept any monetary transactions. Devotees get loans for their wish fulfilment. People also achieve their goals after taking loans from here.” 

He added that Lal Bahadur Shastri’s mother and family members of Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha also took “loans” from this bank.

It is important to note that as per Sanatan Dharma, Shri Ram’s name is revered as the Ultimate truth and it is a way of spiritual enlightenment. The Ram Bhakts find solace and profound spiritual enrichment in scribbling, uttering and remembering Prabhu Shri Ram’s name.

Gaganyaan mission of ISRO will be launched in 2025, multiple test flights will be done in this year: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

ANI
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Gaganyaan mission of ISRO will be launched in 2025, multiple test flights will be done in this year: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Mos) for Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday informed that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the Gaganyaan mission in 2025.

The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth by landing in Indian sea waters.

Stating that 2024 is “very important” for the ‘Gaganyaan’, Singh said that multiple tests will be carried out to achieve the objectives of the mission.

“We are going to the final launch in 2025. This year is very important because the test flights will be done this year. It is important and exciting to send a human being into space, but it is equally important to get the human being back safe and sound. We have a crew module and an operation module and the test flights would ensure that all these functions happen as we have envisaged,” Singh told reporters in Jammu.

He further informed that the last flight before the actual mission will carry a female robo ‘Voyo Mitra’, which will simulate the activities of astronauts.

“The last flight before the action flight would be carrying a female robo named ‘Voyo Mitra’. She would perform all those activities that a human astronaut would perform. It’s going to be a whole-government approach. Around the same time when we have an Indian going into space in 2025, we will also have an Indian going into the sea bed. In 2025, we will go to the lowest seabed, and that’s going to generate a blue economy,” he said.

Earlier, India achieved a major milestone on Saturday, placing its first dedicated solar mission, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, in the Halo orbit.

The country went gaga over this historic achievement, especially since this mission came at the back of India’s moon landing, the Chandrayaan-3 mission last August.

Aditya-L1 reached Lagrange Point L1 on Saturday, which is about 1.5 million km from Earth. The PSLV-C57.1 rocket carrying the Aditya-L1 orbiter lifted off successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, in last September.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Hundreds of flights cancelled, thousands of passengers stranded globally as over 170 Boeing 737 MAX-9s grounded after Alaska Airlines mid-air window blowout

OpIndia Staff
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Hundreds of flights cancelled, thousands of passengers stranded globally as over 170 Boeing 737 MAX-9s grounded after Alaska Airlines mid-air window blowout

Around 171 Boeing 737 MAX-9s operated by various airlines across the world have been grounded for enhanced inspection, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. It all started on 5th January when a window along with a party of the fuselage of a Boeing 737 MAX-9 operated by Alaska Air fell off (Blowout as reported widely) when the flight reached an altitude of 16,000 feet. The flight had to make an emergency landing and luckily no passenger suffered serious injuries. 

However, the incident has led to wider security scrutiny as all aviation regulators globally and airlines operating the 737 MAX-9 planes, and even other variants of the 737 MAX family of aircraft have been asked to undertake security inspections. This has affected around 171 Boeing 737 MAX-9s globally resulting in flight cancellations and inconvenience to passengers. Alaska Airlines have grounded 65 Boeing MAX-9 aircraft following the incident.

However, it is important to note that while Indian airlines don’t operate Boeing 737 MAX-9s, they have been carrying out a “one-time inspection” of the exit doors of their Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft on DGCA’s directive. 

Here are the details of what happened so far and how various aviation regulators including India’s DGCA have responded to Alaska Airlines’ mid-air blowout incident. 

The Alaska Airlines mid-air incident that triggered this new security scare for Boeing planes

On 5th January (Friday), Alaska Airlines, the airline company, was operating a Boeing 737 MAX-9 aircraft for flight 1282 between Portland and Ontario (in California). Shortly after the flight took off, a window panel and a portion of the plane’s fuselage blew out. This caused decompression in the cabin and left a door-sized hole in the plane’s fuselage at an altitude of around 16,000 feet. The malfunction forced the pilots to make an emergency landing. 

As per reports, no passenger was seated in the area that witnessed the mishap. Sharing their experience, passengers told US media that they noticed a sudden gush of wind and a change in pressure adding that a boy suffered minor injuries and his shirt was ripped. 

However, all the 171 passengers and six crew on board the aircraft returned without any serious injury. The authorities stated that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident and the airline extended its full cooperation in its investigation. Following the mid-air blowout, Alaska Airlines grounded all of its 65 Boeing 737-MAX 9 aircraft.

It has come to light that the aircraft involved in flight 1282 was a brand-new aircraft. It was delivered to Alaska Airlines on 31st October 2023. In an airline’s parlance, the part of the aircraft that blew off in the incident is called a plug door. It is a specific panel of the fuselage that is reserved for an optional emergency exit door and it is located near the rear (back) of the aircraft. According to aviation safety experts, the mishap could be a case of structural failure.

Low-cost carriers commonly install additional doors in aircraft to accommodate extra seat rows. This necessitates supplementary emergency evacuation routes. In contrast, aircraft with a relatively lower seat count, often seen in full-service carriers, may have the option to permanently seal such additional doors.

According to a Reuters report, citing sources, Kansas-based Spirit AeroSystems, which separated from Boeing in 2005, manufactured and installed the particular plug door that suffered the blowout. 

Indian Airlines asked to conduct a “one-time inspection”

Following the Alaska Airlines’ mid-air blowout, the DGCA on 6th January directed Indian Airline companies – Akasa Air, Air India Express, and SpiceJet to conduct a “one-time inspection” of emergency exits on all of their Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft.

As per airline fleet databases, there are currently 44 Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft in operation in India. Akasa Air operates the most 737 MAX-8 planes in the country, with 22 aircraft. SpiceJet has 13, and Air India Express has nine.

While no Indian airline carrier uses the MAX-9 variant that was involved in the Alaska Airline incident, the DGCA has asked Indian carriers to inspect the aircraft as an “abundant precautionary measure”. Notably, the MAX-8 and MAX-9 variants of Boeing are part of the same aircraft family and share numerous similarities. 

As per the DGCA’s directive, all three Indian carriers operating the 737 MAX-8 are required to complete the inspections by noon on Sunday (7th January). 

Meanwhile, the carriers stated that they are in touch with Boeing to get more information on the Alaska Airlines incident, and will comply with the DGCA’s directive on the one-time inspection of emergency exits.

Air Aviation authorities around the globe ask grounding of Boeing 737 MAX-9s in line with the US FAA’s directives

On Saturday, the United States air aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to temporarily ground more than 170 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft for “immediate inspections” following the Alaska Airlines incident.

According to the FAA, as many as 171 aircraft worldwide are likely to be affected, with each inspection taking four to eight hours. 

As the leading reliable aviation regulator globally, the FAA sets the standard for safety-related measures. Numerous regulators and airlines in other countries often align their actions and directives with those established by the FAA in matters of aviation safety.

Following the incident, Alaska Airlines, the world’s second-largest operator (65) of this aircraft type, had already grounded its Max 9 fleet. United Airlines Holdings Inc., the leading operator of this model, also withdrew certain jets (79) for inspections in compliance with the FAA’s directive. Boeing told AFP that it has delivered a total of 218 737 MAX 9 planes globally.

The 737 MAX, Boeing’s highly popular aircraft variant, has faced safety challenges in the past. The recent incident involving Alaska Airlines has further dented its reputation, complicating Boeing’s ongoing efforts to restore public trust in the aircraft.

Troubled history for Boeing

Boeing introduced the 737 MAX aircraft family with great excitement a few years ago. However, the fleet faced a significant setback when two planes crashed within six months between October 2018 and March 2019. This led to global regulators grounding the aircraft worldwide. The first incident occurred in October 2018, with a Lion Air 737 MAX crashing in Indonesia, resulting in the tragic loss of all 189 people on board. In March 2019, another crash involving an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX claimed the lives of all 157 people on board.

Following extensive investigations, corrections, and testing, the FAA granted clearance to the 737 MAX in November 2020. Subsequently, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency also approved it in January 2021. However, the DGCA took more time, permitting the 737 MAX to resume operations only in August 2021. This made India one of the last major aviation markets to reintroduce the aircraft.

The recent incident involving Alaska Airlines occurred shortly after Boeing issued a directive for 737 MAX operators to conduct inspections. This action was prompted by the discovery of a loose bolt in the rudder control system of one of the planes. Rudders, located on the tail of the aircraft, are essential for altering the airplane’s yaw, or vertical axis rotation.

‘Mother, I am leaving, I might not be able to return now’: Story of Karsevak Bhagwan Singh who died for Ram Mandir

राहुल पाण्डेय
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‘Mother, I am leaving, I might not be able to return now’: Story of Karsevak Bhagwan Singh who died for Ram Mandir

The holy city of Ayodhya is preparing for the historic return of Shri Ram as the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir is set to take place on 22nd January 2024 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and distinguished guests. Amidst the happiness over the “return of the king”, after a centuries-long wait, the Hindu community remembers all the Karsevaks who sacrificed their lives for the Ramjanmabhoomi from the era of Mughals to Mulayam. Among countless such known and unknown martyrs was Bhagwan Singh Jat, a resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. OpIndia reached out to Bhagwan Singh’s family for more information on their present condition.

On 2 November 1990, the day then-Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav declared that “even a bird cannot fly in Ayodhya,” Bhagwan Singh arrived near Ramjanmbhoomi. Singh was killed by a bullet fired by police acting on government orders. Bhagwan Singh was born in the Aligarh district village of Nagla Balram. His family currently resides in Aligarh’s Aturra village. Farming has traditionally been the family’s primary source of income. Bhagwan Singh had two brothers namely Vijay Pal Singh and Nepal Singh. Vijaypal Singh also died four years ago. He has two sons, one of whom is a farmer and the other is preparing to join the police force after the CM Yogi Adityanath government announced a police recruitment drive.

Bhagwan Singh was postponing marriage to focus on the spread of Dharma

OpIndia spoke with Hariom Singh, the late Bhagwan Singh Jat’s nephew. He stated that his uncle was only 24 years old when he sacrificed his life. He had attended RSS shakhas since he was a child. Bhagwan Singh went to Mathura to continue his education after finishing his initial studies in Aligarh. He continued to propagate Hindutva here as well. Bhagwan Singh never married. When his family members urged him to think about getting married, he used to avoid the discussion. 

Bhagwan Singh attended RSS shakhas since childhood (Image: OpIndia Hindi)

“I am leaving Maa, I may not be able to return home”

Hariom Singh went on to say that when his uncle Bhagwan Singh heard that Ram devotees were gathering in Ayodhya for Kar Seva, he couldn’t stop himself. Bhagwan Singh travelled from Mathura to Aligarh before heading to Ayodhya. “Mother, I am leaving,” he said as he touched his mother’s feet. Now I may not be able to come back ” Hariom Singh said that his grandmother Shishkaur Devi did not comprehend why her son was talking about going to Ayodhya at that time. They assumed Bhagwan Singh was just going to Mathura or elsewhere nearby.

Furthermore, Hariom Singh told OpIndia that his uncle had left the house on October 28, 1990. There was police security all around at the time. The distance between Aligarh and Ayodhya is approximately 500 kilometres. On Mulayam Singh’s orders, the police patrolled the footpaths in rural areas, in addition to the rail and bus routes. Only those who visited Ayodhya or worshipped Ram were detained and tortured before being imprisoned. Despite this, according to Hariom Singh, his uncle Bhagwan Singh surpassed all the barriers placed by the Mulayam government and arrived in Ayodhya.

Hariom Singh told us that his uncle was killed in the Ayodhya Kar Sevak massacre on 2 November 1990. The bullet is said to have struck Bhagwan Singh in the chest. His death occurred somewhere near Ramjanmabhoomi. Bhagwan Singh’s family learned about his sacrifice after 2 November from other kar sevaks in the group.

Elderly parents searched for several days but could not find Bhagwan Singh’s dead body

While speaking to OpIndia, Hariom Singh grew emotional. After a brief silence, he said that as soon as he learned of Bhagwan Singh’s death, his elderly grandparents left for Ayodhya. Due to the restrictions, they had difficulty reaching Ayodhya at first, but once there, finding the corpse of their son was like finding a needle in a haystack. Hariom’s grandfather, Jawahar Singh Jat, and his elderly wife looked for his Bhagwan Singh’s body for several days but their efforts went in vain. Even the government and administration officials refused to assist the elderly couple while they wandered the streets and river banks of Ayodhya. Eventually, both returned to Aligarh empty-handed and with a heart full of sorrow.

Even today, Bhagwan Singh’s mother tears up over the pain of not getting to see her son one last time

Hariom Singh suspects his uncle’s body was thrown into the Saryu River by police officers deployed in Ayodhya back then. Bhagwan Singh’s supreme sacrifice rendered his father, Jawahar Singh, extremely devastated. Lost in his profound grief, Jawahar Singh passed away after some time. Shishkaur Devi, Bhagwan Singh’s 92-year-old mother, is still alive. Hariom Singh told us that his grandmother still sheds tears because she will never see her martyred son again. However, Hariom Singh’s entire family is pleased with the construction of Lord Ram’s temple in Ayodhya. According to this family, Bhagwan Singh’s sacrifice was worthwhile as eventually, his dream is taking the shape of reality. 

“We are proud of his sacrifice, and are ready to lay down our lives as well”

Bhagwan Singh’s sacrifice is honoured with a memorial in Aligarh as a small statue of Bhagwan Singh is installed in his hometown of Nagla Balram by his family on their land.  Hariom Singh expressed hope that a symbol of his uncle’s memory would be included in the newly constructed Lord Ram temple. This memory, according to Hariom Singh, will inspire countless people to fight for Dharma. Hariom Singh also stated that he is proud of his uncle’s sacrifice and that if necessary, he is willing to give his life in the name of Lord Ram.

Bhagwan Singh’s memorial in his village

Hariom Singh has two brothers.  His father Nepal Singh is a farmer. Nepal Singh’s elder son works in the Uttar Pradesh Police Department and is currently posted in Ghaziabad. Hariom Singh, on the other hand, holds multiple degrees. Along with his younger brother, he is preparing for teacher recruitment. Hariom Singh also wants the current government to pay attention to the families of other martyrs who died in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement alongside him. Hariom also wishes for the families of the martyrs to be provided assistance for the darshan of Ram Janmabhoomi.

Indians cancel their trips to Maldives following Maldivian ministers abuse India and PM Modi, trends like #BoycottMaldives pick up steam

OpIndia Staff
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Indians cancel their trips to Maldives following Maldivian ministers abuse India and PM Modi, trends like #BoycottMaldives pick up steam

A large number of Indians have reportedly cancelled their trips to the Maldives after some Maldivian politicians including Ministers made crass and Hinduphobic commentary on Indians and insulting barbs at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Lakshadweep visit. The recent diplomatic row started when jittery Maldivian social media users and politicians made deplorable comments about PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit. 

It is important to note that while Indian social media users asserted that PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit was a development push to boost tourism in the region. Several users also argued that Lakshadweep could potentially replace Maldives as a tourist option for Indians. However, PM Modi didn’t mention Maldives at all. 

Yet, fearing a hit to its tourism sector on which the Maldivian economy has a substantive dependence, Maldivian users and politicians indulged in racial attacks leading to a massive outrage among Indians. 

Hashtags like #BoycottMaldives are trending on Indian social media platforms. Taking to X, several social media users have claimed that they have cancelled their planned visit to the Island nation in the Indian Ocean citing the Maldivian Minister’s uncalled-for remarks on Indians and the Indians, including some of them sharing screenshots of their scheduled tickets. 

A Twitter user asserted, “I had planned a vacation to Maldives in February, I’m going to cancel the same and visit a place domestically. Will not let my money go to someone who hates my country.” 

Another user claimed, “I went to the Maldives few months back and with the things going around . I wish I hadn’t gone…I gifted my Niece her honeymoon package and I have now asked my agent to cancel. Yes am losing 50k in process but it’s worth it.” 

Some users also shared screenshots reflecting the schedule of their planned trip to the Island nation.

According to an Independent content creator and YouTuber Abhi, around 8000+ hotel bookings and 2000+ flights have been cancelled, however the numbers could not be verified independetendtly.

Notably, Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts – who has now been suspended by the Maldivian government for her comments on PM Modi – recently made insulting remarks against PM Modi, referring to him as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’ while responding to PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep Islands. 

In the post which was later deleted, Shiuna wrote, “What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with a life jacket #VisitMaldives.” 

The post was deleted after backlash on X (formerly Twitter) where Indian social media users slammed the Maldives government officials, including Shiuna, for their crass remarks against the Indian Prime Minister for sharing pictures of his visit from the Lakshadweep Island. It is worth noting that PM Modi did not mention the Maldives anywhere in his tweets. In yet another post, Shiuna tweeted that the Maldives does not need the Indian Military’s presence in the region.

Similarly, on 5th January, Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) took to the microblogging site X to mock Indians. The PPM member’s highly racist remark against Indians came in response to a post by popular X user Mr Sinha, where he shared pictures of PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep. Indian netizens slammed the leader for making racial commentary. 

In response to Mr Sinha’s post, Zahid Rameez wrote on 5th January, “The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.”

It is important to note that several Maldivian Politicians including former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed had called out their colleagues and condemned their act. Condemning the derogatory language used by some of the country’s officials against PM Narendra Modi, Former President Nasheed said that the language used by the minister Mariyam Shiuna was “appalling” and said India is a “key ally” for the security and prosperity of Maldives.

“Fake News”: Maldivian Minister Hassan Zihan denies reports of suspension, local media clarifies that third minister suspended for anti-India comments is Mahzoom Majid

OpIndia Staff
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“Fake News”: Maldivian Minister Hassan Zihan denies reports of suspension, local media clarifies that third minister suspended for anti-India comments is Mahzoom Majid

Maldivian Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan has denied reports that he was one of the three ministers suspended for hate comments against India and PM Modi. Quoting a local media tweet, Hassan Zihan on Sunday tweeted ‘fake news’.

He was quoting a tweet by local media outlet Adhadhu, which reported that deputy youth ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Hassan Zihan were suspended over social media posts, making mocking references to Prime Minister Modi.

Following his recent visit to Lakshadweep, citing a top government source, Adhadhu reported that three deputy ministers were suspended for making disparaging statements against PM Modi. However, the media house later updated the report to say that the third minister suspended was Mahzoom Majid.

Earlier in the day, most Indian media houses also reported that the three suspended ministers included Hassan Zihan. It seems there was some confusion over the name, as not just Indian, but some Maldivian news outlets also reported the same. But now it has been confirmed that the third minister to be suspended is Mahzoom Majid, along with Maryam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef.

Notably, Mahzoom Majid deactivated his X (Twitter) account after his suspension. Maryam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef and have deleted their offensive tweets.

The three ministers were suspended for their unprovoked abusive messages towards India, Indians and PM Narendra Modi. It all started following PM Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep.

On 4th January, PM Narendra Modi shared some pictures of his recent visit to Lakshadweep as he exhorted people to explore the scenic island in what could be seen as a push to his ‘vocal for local’ slogan, and an effort to give a boost to tourism in the island.

Following PM Modi’s tweet posting stunning vistas from the Lakshadweep Islands, several social media users in India called for Indians to visit the place over foreign destinations, including the Maldives, which shares similar geographical characteristics as the Lakshadweep Islands.

That touched off bitter reactions from Maldivian counterparts, including governmental functionaries and prominent citizens, many of whom resorted to making churlish remarks against India, Indians, and the Indian PM.

Some of them crossed all limits and made highly objectionable remarks, threatening diplomatic tension between the two neighbours. Other sensible leaders of the island nation quickly condemned such attacks and urged the govt to take action to prevent any escalation. India also reacted strongly to the remarks. As a result, the Maldives govt issued a statement distancing itself from the comments. Later, it was reported the three ministers have been suspended.

Calling Lakshadweep smelly is racist and uninformed, shame on you for being so crass and vulgarly racist: Kangana Ranaut responds to racist comments by Maldives leader

OpIndia Staff
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Calling Lakshadweep smelly is racist and uninformed, shame on you for being so crass and vulgarly racist: Kangana Ranaut responds to racist comments by Maldives leader

A member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate Zahid Rameez stirred a major controversy on social media after he made fun of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent trip to Lakshadweep. Afterwards, many people including government ministers from the island nation were rattled by the latter’s visit to the tropical archipelago and made shockingly racist and disparaging remarks about Indians without any provocation.

Social media users, including well-known figures from Bollywood and sports, spoke against the blatant bigotry. Popular actress Kangana Ranaut in one such statement called out the stereotypical racism directed towards Indians. In reference to the faith practised by the majority of people in Laksdweep, she shared that Zahid Rameez has a “Muslim phobia” despite sharing the same religion as them. She pointed out, “Lakshadweep consists of 98 per cent of the Muslim population. This prominent public figure from the Maldives calling them smelly and lowly is rather racist and uninformed.”

The celebrity highlighted, “Lakshadweep’s entire population is hardly 60 thousand people which means it’s almost untouched, unexplored and unexploited natural island. For most people tourism is not just filthy luxury, it is rather an exploration of nature, alignment with the source and above all experiencing and enjoying the raw, untouched beauty of virgin beaches. Shame on you for being so crass and vulgarly racist.”

Zahid Rameez termed the concept of Laskdweep tourism as “delusional” while drawing an unflattering comparison with the Maldives. He asked, “How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.” The statement triggered a lot of angry reactions from the netizens.

Meanwhile, the Maldives government suspended three of its ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid for their insulting remarks on India’s Prime Minister. “All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately,” informed Maldives government spokesperson Ibrahim Khaleel.

The Maldivian government clarified its position over Mariyam Shiuna’s words regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lakshwadeep visit in a statement released earlier on 7th January. Following an unexpected spike in cancellations of Indian tourists, the government declared that it would not hold back from taking legal action against anybody who expresses such “derogatory remarks.” Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Mariyam Shiuna recently labelled PM Modi as a “clown” and a “puppet of Israel” after he uploaded images from his trip to the Lakshadweep Islands. However, she deleted it after a massive uproar.

Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives also denounced the demeaning comments made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi by certain leaders in his nation. He further requested that the administration of Mohamed Muizzu, the current president disassociate itself from these assertions and assure India that they do not represent government policy.

Notably, On 4th January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Lakshadweep and posted photos of himself snorkelling and exploring the archipelago. After the photos went viral, many people commented that the location was better than the Maldives for tourists and made comparisons between them. Political figures in the Maldives responded by ridiculing the visit and uttering disrespectful statements about him, the country and Indians. Indian internet users responded strongly to this and the hashtag “#BoycottMaldives”  started trending on social media.

Attack on ED: WB Governor asks authorities to arrest TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, investigate possible links to terrorists

OpIndia Staff
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Attack on ED: WB Governor asks authorities to arrest TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, investigate possible links to terrorists

On 6th January, the Governor of West Bengal, CV Ananda Bose, instructed authorities to arrest the Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in the case related to the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials. The WB Governor expressed concern over the matter and said the TMC leader might have “crossed the border”. Reports suggest that he has instructed the authorities to immediately arrest Sheikh and investigate his alleged connections with terrorists.

The statement from Raj Bhavan read, “On receipt of a complaint in the Peace Room of Raj Bhavan that Sahajahan Sheikh is supported by some political leaders with the connivance of some police officers, Hon’ble Governor instructed the Police chief to arrest the culprit forthwith and report compliance.” The Governor further emphasised the need to track down Sheikh’s location and take necessary action.

The statement further noted that the complaint received by Raj Bhavan pointed out that Sheikh “may have crossed the border” and “may have liaison with the terrorists” that should be investigated immediately.

Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal also alleged that there might be involvement of cross-border elements and Rohingyas in the mob attack on ED officials. In a statement, BJP’s state president, Sukanta Majumdar, said, “We have been alleging that cross-border elements and Rohingyas were involved in Friday’s attack on ED officials. We support what the governor has said. If Sahajahan is arrested, it will unveil a big nexus between those involved in corruption and terror.”

Following the Governor’s instructions, TMC criticised him for the remarks. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “We don’t know what is the basis of his remarks. According to the Constitution, the governor works in consultation with the state government. So how can he make such remarks without any concrete report or evidence? He is not here to run a parallel government.”

ED officials booked by WB police

On 6th January, West Bengal police registered an FIR against Enforcement Directorate officials who were attacked during a raid at the house of Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in North 24 Parganas. The raid was being conducted by the central agency in connection to a ration distribution scam.

The FIR was registered under Sections 441, 379, and 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on the complaint filed by the caretaker of Shahjahan’s house. Reports suggest that the FIR was registered against them for attempting to “break in without warrant”.

Mob of 800-1000 attacked with intention to kill, said ED

In a statement, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that its team, along with CRPF and journalists, was attacked, and their vehicles were targeted in Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. In its statement, the probe agency said that a violent mob comprising 800-1000 people attacked the ED team with CRPF to cause death. It added that the attackers were carrying sticks and stones. The probe agency added that the mob is suspected to be instigated by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates. It further informed that three of its officials had been injured in the mob attack and admitted to hospital for treatment. In addition to injuring the on-duty ED officials, the violent mob also stole their laptops, mobile phones, wallets, cash and other belongings.

Public Distribution System Scam

On 26th October, ED raided the residence of West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick in Kolkata in connection to a corruption case related to ration distribution. Mallick is a senior TMC leader serving as the forest minister of Bengal. Previously, he held the food minister portfolio. In response to the raid, CM Mamata Banerjee strongly criticised the central agency and accused the BJP-led government at the centre of using such actions as part of a “broader strategy” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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