Amitabh Bachchan Bats For Indian Islands Amid India-Maldives Diplomatic Row

New Delhi: Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan hailed the scenic beauty of Lakshadweep and the Andaman Islands, emphasizing their stunning landscapes.

This comes amidst a controversy sparked by derogatory remarks from Maldivian ministers following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep.

Bachchan joined a chorus of influential figures, including Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, and cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatesh Prasad, and Virender Sehwag, urging people to explore domestic islands instead of the Maldives.

Quoting Sehwag’s post, Bachchan supported the call for India to enhance its infrastructure to attract tourists and bolster the economy. He highlighted the beauty of Lakshadweep and the Andamans, urging self-reliance and expressing pride in being Indian.

Viru paji .. this is so relevant and in the right spirit of our land .. our own are the very best .. I have been to Lakshadweep and Andamans and they are such astonishingly beautiful locations .. stunning waters beaches and the underwater experience is simply unbelievable ..
हम… https://t.co/NM400eJAbm

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 8, 2024

Celebrities like Nimrat Kaur and Varun Dhawan shared their plans to explore Indian islands, promoting the hashtag #ExploreIndianIslands. Social media buzzed with claims of Indians cancelling Maldives trips amid the row. The Maldivian foreign ministry clarified that derogatory remarks on social media don’t reflect the government’s stance.

Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep on January 2 and 3 aimed at inaugurating various projects. The controversy sparked discussions about promoting domestic tourism and developing India’s island destinations.