Nepal, Jan. 17 -- India's relations with the Maldives have dipped in the past two weeks. It all began with the derogatory tweets of three Maldivian deputy ministers on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Indian island of Lakshadweep, which he promoted as "full of many possibilities". Like the Maldives, Lakshadweep possesses scenic beauty, but its tourism potential remains untapped.

President Mohamed Muizzu suspended the ministers for their comments on the Indian premier as New Delhi summoned the Maldivian ambassador and expressed displeasure. Social media was flooded with comparisons between Lakshadweep and the Maldives in terms of their touristic attractions as one of India's major travel aggregators, Ease my Trip, announ...