Mounting criticism is being directed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) for what many are calling a gross failure in handling logistics surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit and the 60th Independence Day celebrations.
The capital came to a standstill Friday as widespread road closures, enforced under the guise of security, paralyzed Malé. Key roads were shut without sufficient public notice, severely disrupting daily life, halting business activity, and affecting movement even in residential zones.
Amid the chaos, several local media outlets have condemned the Foreign Ministry and MNDF for secretly issuing press permits to a select few, while denying access to the vast majority of national media. Journalists have reported that their inquiries to MNDF officials have gone unanswered, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability.
“It is deeply concerning that, during a national event of such significance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MNDF has chosen secrecy and exclusion over openness and fair access,” said one senior editor from a leading local news outlet.
The restricted media access — combined with the absence of any official explanation — has sparked accusations of institutional bias and an attempt to tightly control the narrative surrounding Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
While the visit was expected to strengthen diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India, the poorly coordinated arrangements and selective press access have cast a shadow over the occasion. Critics argue that the Foreign Ministry and MNDF have not only failed in their duty to facilitate secure but inclusive celebrations, but have also undermined public trust by dodging accountability.
As celebrations continue under tight security, citizens and journalists alike await a formal response from authorities — a silence that is growing more deafening by the hour.
