India and Maldives at Odds Over Pristine Beaches

FILE - People walk along a beach at Vilimalé island in the the Maldives on Nov. 15, 2023. The Maldives is in hot water over calls to boycott the tropical destination, following derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi by government ministers.

Pristine beaches in India and Maldives have emerged at the heart of a spat that has erupted between the two countries following derogatory comments posted by Maldivian ministers about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and subsequent calls by Indians to boycott the picturesque archipelago as a holiday destination.