New Delhi: Maldivian politician Mariyam Shiuna, who was one of three ministers suspended earlier this year for making remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has issued a formal apology for a recent social media post which allegedly disrespected the Indian National Flag.
In her statement, Shiuna expressed her deepest regrets for any offense caused by the content of her recent post, which she acknowledged had stirred criticism. She clarified that the image used in her response to the Maldivian opposition party MDP inadvertently resembled the Indian flag, emphasizing that this resemblance was entirely unintentional.
“I want to make it clear that this was entirely unintentional, and I sincerely regret any misunderstanding it may have caused. Maldives deeply value its relationship and, the mutual respect we share with India. In future, I will be more vigilant in verifying the content I share to prevent such oversights,” she stated.
The contentious post by Shiuna replaced a compass on an MDP poster with a symbol resembling the Ashok Chakra in the Indian flag. It surfaced amid diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives after President Muizzu’s assumed office. This isn’t the first time Shiuna has drawn attention for her comments regarding India.
Earlier, her remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep had drawn a sharp response from former Maldivian president, Mohamed Nasheed. The Maldives government later suspended Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid over their remarks against PM Modi, which triggered a massive backlash.
