Why a social media row over Modi's tweets led to the suspension of three Maldives ministers

The Maldives government on Sunday suspended three of its deputy ministers for making allegedly derogatory comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The ministers, Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid had responded to supporters of the Modi government claiming that Modi's recent trip to the Lakshadweep islands would take tourism away from Maldives. Lakshadweep islands lie off the southwestern coast of India, only 70 nautical miles away from Maldives. As the adverse comments from the Maldivian ministers were shared widely, several Indian celebrities took to social media urging tourists to boycott Maldives and visit Lakshadweep instead….