Bollywood stars promote Lakshadweep amid the row over Maldives comments

Bollywood stars Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shraddha Kapoor, and Tiger Shroff, together with different famend personalities, have appealed to followers to “discover Indian islands” and coastal locations. This celeb attraction follows disparaging remarks by Maldivian ministers in relation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s snorkelling journey to Lakshadweep, elevating the tourism profile of the archipelago.

In their social media posts, actor Akshay Kumar, cricketer Hardik Pandya and former Indian cricket staff member Venkatesh Prasad urged folks to assist the Indian tourism sector.

At the identical time, a lot of the celebrities condemned the comments by Maldivian ministers on the social community X. The comments have triggered an enormous social media row, with Internet customers pitting Lakshadweep and Maldives as rival vacationer locations.

The hashtag #BoycottMaldives has been trending on X all day, taking some shine off the Indian Ocean island nation’s popularity.

The Maldivian authorities right this moment distanced itself from the “derogatory remarks on social media platforms in opposition to international leaders and high-ranking people”. Three Maldives ministers were suspended today in the fallout of the comments.

Celebrities lend their appeal to #ExploreIndianIslands

In an X put up, actor Salman Khan stated that it was “cool” to see Modi take pleasure in the clear and gorgeous seashores of Lakshadweep. “…and the better part is that yeh hamare India mein hain,” wrote the Tiger 3 star.

Actor Tiger Shroff stated in a put up that the Lakshadweep islands had captured his coronary heart. “The wealthy tradition, tranquil seashores, and the real heat of its folks create a fascinating attract. Join me in celebrating the inclusivity and unparalleled magnificence of those islands – a treasure trove ready for us to discover!” he wrote.

Actor Varun Dhawan shared a photograph of Modi strolling on the sands in Lakshadweep and praised “our pristine seashores and water”.

Actress Shraddha Kapoor and different stars shared posts on X, utilizing the hashtags ‘Explore Indian Islands’ and ‘Lakshadweep’.

“All these photos and memes making me tremendous FOMO now. Lakshadweep has such pristine seashores and coastlines, thriving native tradition, I’m on the verge of reserving an impulse chhutti. This 12 months, why not #ExploreIndianIslands (sic),” Shraddha Kapoor shared on X.

Actor Kartik Aaryan wrote on X: “Incredible India isn’t just a tag, our stunning nation has a few of the most unbelievable and gorgeous locales and #Lakshadweep is an instance of it – a heaven like place in India itself! Can’t wait to discover this stunning Indian island.”

Hardik Pandya stated that it was “extraordinarily unhappy” to see what was being stated about India. He added: “With its attractive marine life, stunning seashores, Lakshadweep is the good getaway spot and absolutely a should go to for me for my subsequent vacation.”

Let us assist Indian tourism, says Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar, who rang in the New Year in the Maldives together with his household, condemned the “hateful and racist” remarks by distinguished public figures from the Maldives. His put up identified how a lot the island nation benefited from the arrival of Indian vacationers.

“Surprised that they’re doing this to a rustic that sends them the most variety of vacationers… We are good to our neighbours however why ought to we tolerate such unprovoked hate?”

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, on the Lakshadweep-Maldives row

“I’ve visited the Maldives many occasions and all the time praised it, however dignity first. Let us resolve to #ExploreIndianIslands and assist our personal tourism,” Akshay wrote on the microblogging web site.

Speaking in the identical vein, Venkatesh Prasad posted: “A deputy minister utilizing such language for our nation. Maldives is a largely poor nation largely depending on upmarket tourism with over 15% vacationers from India.”

He added: “India has very many unexplored stunning coastal cities, and this can be a nice alternative to develop a lot of them into vacationer locations.”

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar stated that he rang in his fiftieth birthday in Sindhudurg, and that this coastal city in Maharashtra supplied every thing “we wished, and extra”.

Tendulkar stated: “Gorgeous places mixed with great hospitality left us with a treasure trove of reminiscences. India is blessed with stunning coastlines and pristine islands. With our ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ philosophy, now we have a lot to discover, so many reminiscences ready to be created.”

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and actors John Abraham, Kangana Ranaut, and Randeep Hooda have been additionally amongst a few of the Indian movie personalities to promote Lakshadweep by means of social media.

“With the superb Indian hospitality, the concept of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and an enormous marine life to discover, Lakshadweep is the place to go,” stated Abraham.

Ranaut referred to as Lakshadweep an “virtually untouched, unexplored and unexploited pure island”. Hooda, who shot his upcoming movie Veer Savarkar in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, stated that he was awed by the pristine magnificence and the wealthy historical past of the area.