Maldivian Politician Apologizes for Social Media Post Resembling Indian Flag

Mariyam Shiuna, a suspended Maldivian politician, has issued apologies for a social media post that inadvertently resembled the Indian Tricolour’s Ashok Chakra. The post, now deleted, sparked controversy due to its unintentional resemblance to India’s national flag. Shiuna clarified that her intention was not to disrespect India or its flag, expressing regret for any offense caused.

In her statement on X (formerly Twitter), Shiuna explained that the image was meant as a critique of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in the context of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Maldives. She emphasized the significance of the Maldives’ relationship with India and pledged to exercise greater caution in verifying shared content to avoid such oversights in the future.

The deleted post, which targeted the MDP’s campaign, featured an image resembling the Ashok Chakra, a symbol on the Indian flag. Shiuna’s suspension earlier this year, along with two colleagues, stemmed from remarks perceived as targeting the Indian leadership. These comments arose from concerns about India’s promotion of the Lakshadweep islands as a tourist destination, which some viewed as competition to the Maldives.

Shiuna, belonging to President Mohamed Muizzu’s ruling People’s National Congress (PMC), acknowledged the importance of maintaining strong ties with India and expressed regret for the misunderstanding caused by the post.