Amidst rising tensions between India and Maldives, Mr. Bhatura, a restaurant in Noida is enticing customers with a tempting promotion. Now, with every booking to Lakshadweep or any canceled trips to the Maldives, patrons can enjoy a complimentary plate of ‘chole bhature.’
“Through this, we want to promote tourism in Lakshadweep. We started this scheme on Saturday and the response has been very good. In the NCR region itself, 10 people have availed the scheme and they have appreciated it. We now plan to extend the scheme till the end of January,” Vijay Mishra, owner of the restaurant, was quoted as saying by India Today.
He added that the initiative goes beyond mere business transactions; it is also a gesture of solidarity with the country and its tourism sector.
Speaking about the unique ad, the restaurant chain owner revealed that the idea originated when Maldivian ministers began making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India-Maldives relations faced tension when President Mohamed Muizzu, perceived as a pro-China leader, asserted upon assuming the presidency in November last year that he intended to fulfill his election pledge of expelling Indian military personnel from his country.
The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbors in the Indian Ocean Region, and the overall bilateral relationship, including in areas of defense and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male.
Earlier, the Maldives media reported that Mohamed Muizzu had asked India to withdraw its troops from the island nation before March 15.
Muizzu’s latest move comes in the wake of a social media storm that erupted a week earlier, leading to the suspension of three island ministers over alleged derogatory comments against Indians and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a consequence, Indian leaders, celebrities, and tour companies responded by canceling trips to the island and expressing their commitment to enhancing tourism in domestic islands.
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