Lakshadweep vs Maldives: MakeMyTrip caught in social media storm, faces uninstall threats
The travel platform has invited the ire of the Indian internet despite the portal openly supporting the government's initiatives to promote Lakshadweep
Travel platform MakeMyTrip is the latest to have been caught unwittingly in India's diplomatic row with Maldives. The company has been facing boycott threats on X after some social media users accused it of not supporting India's nationalistic causes.
Ever since PM Narendra Modi promoted his Lakshadweep visit with a series of photographs on his social media, the internet has seen a renewed interest in India's smallest union territory. It has also set off a geopolitical row between India and Maldives after some Maldivian ministers took distasteful potshots at the PM and Indians at large.
X has been buzzing with calls to "boycott Maldives" with even Bollywood stars backing the PM's initiative to promote Lakshadweep. Travel platform EaseMyTrip took a firm stand against Maldives by suspending all flights to the island nation after the row erupted between the two countries.
Co-Founder Nishant Pitti tweeted: "In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings. #TravelUpdate #SupportingNation."
Amid the brouhaha, trolls have been targetting MakeMyTrip since no such move has been made by the travel platform. Some have even accused the platform of being a China-affiliated company with Chinese executives on its board.
Make my trip has not suspend the booking of Maldives yet still countinue #UnistallMakeMyTrip and #Supporteasemytrip let's turn to our Islands #ExploreIndianIslands pic.twitter.com/5bfB1rlBWL
— 0mmm (@_Ommm__) January 9, 2024
देशभक्त @EaseMyTrip ने अपनी मालदीव जाने वाली सभी फ्लाइट रद्द कर दी
— सुभाष(श्रीश्रीमाल)जैन?️???टीम संगठित भारत?? (@subh_09910468) January 8, 2024
तो हमारा भी धर्म बनता है हम इन्हें सहयोग करें।#UnistallMakeMyTrip चीनी दलाल को
देश की एक जुटता दिखाए pic.twitter.com/t7kTA3xtYD
#UnistallMakeMyTrip #UnInstall_MakeMyTrip pic.twitter.com/NBESC3vzEe
— Richa Shukla (@rn_richa) January 9, 2024
It's not on my mobile as well. #UnInstallChineseMakeMyTrip #UnistallMakeMyTrip @makemytrip https://t.co/2GEaJeCnSN
— Vipul Shirsath (@SaNaTaNiVips) January 9, 2024
MakeMyTrip has yet to release a statement on the fiasco; however, it has put out social media posts in solidarity with the government's efforts to promote Indian beaches.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
The company has not only acknowledged a 3400% increase in on-platform searches on Lakshadweep but also launched a "Beaches of India" campaign offering discounts to Indian travellers to explore the country's beaches.
