'A Poor Country': Sachin Tendulkar Bats for Indian Islands, Venkatesh Prasad Slams Maldivian Minister for Controversial Post

A Maldives minister’s controversial post on social media has triggered a backlash in India in which he took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep.

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PM Modi had shared pictures from his “exhilarating trip” to the Indian islands in the Arabian Sea.

In a now deleted post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Maldivian minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid claimed the trip was organised with an aim to promote tourism in Lakshadweep to shift focus from Maldives.

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has now urged Indians to explore their own “coastlines and pristine islands” while sharing glimpses of his 50th birthday celebration in Sindhudurg recalling the memories of the coastal town.

“250+ days since we rang in my 50th birthday in Sindhudurg!” Tendulkar wrote on X. “The coastal town offered everything we wanted, and more. Gorgeous locations combined with wonderful hospitality left us with a treasure trove of memories.”

“India is blessed with beautiful coastlines and pristine islands. With our “Atithi Devo Bhava” philosophy, we have so much to explore, so many memories waiting to be created,” he added.

Former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad blasted another Maldivian minister Mariyam Shiuna for her derogatory post on India claiming how the island’s economy is dependent on tourism that comprises “over 15% tourists from India.”

“A deputy minister using such language for our country. Maldives is a largely poor country largely dependent on upmarket tourism with over 15% tourists from India,” Prasad wrote.

He then cited this as an opportunity to develop Indian coastal towns into tourist destinations.

“India has very many unexplored beautiful coastal towns, and this is a great opportunity to develop many of them into tourist destinations,” Prasad added.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Nasheed, the former Maldives President, has slammed the “appalling language” made by Mariyam Shiuna on PM Modi.

He asked current government led Mohamed Muizzu to distance itself from the comments.