Facing a backlash following the diplomatic row between India and Maldives, the island nation’s top tourism body has strongly condemned the derogatory comments made by deputy ministers of the country against India and PM Modi.

“The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) strongly condemns the derogatory comments made by some Deputy Ministers on social media platforms, directed towards the Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Narendra Modi as well as the people of India,” MATI said in a statement here on Monday.