Earlier in 2024, a large row was triggered between India and Maldives underneath the Muizzu presidency after the Maldives deputy minister, together with different cupboard members and authorities officers, made disparaging references to PM Modi’s Lakshadweep go to.
Former Maldivian International Minister Abdulla Shahid criticised President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday after he admitted that there have been “no critical considerations” with India-related agreements. Shahid accused Muizzu of political hypocrisy and deceptive the general public throughout his election marketing campaign. He referred to as for an apology, stating that each the folks of the Maldives and India deserve an apology and a radical clarification for the hurt prompted.
Shahid remarked that Muizzu, who now minimises the problems with India, had contested the 2023 Presidential Elections by arguing that the agreements with India jeopardised the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It’s pertinent to say that Muizzu received the election by highlighting these threats, and through his preliminary assembly with Indian officers, he even referred to as for the withdrawal of Indian navy personnel from the Maldives.
‘India deserves an apology’
In a publish on X, Shahid stated that Muizzu tried to unfold “false claims” with reference to Maldives’ relations with India, however now has taken an reverse stand over the identical remarks.
“After years of false claims, President Muizzu has now confirmed there are not any ‘critical considerations’ with the bilateral agreements between the Maldives and India. He received the 2023 presidential election on the again of a marketing campaign that claimed these agreements threatened our sovereignty and territorial integrity. That narrative has now collapsed underneath his personal phrases,” he stated.
Former minister stated remarks made by Muizzu for India within the run-up to the polls “unfold concern” and harmed the picture of the Maldives the world over. “It unfold concern, broke belief, and broken Maldives’ status globally. The folks of Maldives and India deserve an apology and a critical accounting for the hurt prompted,” he stated.
India-Maldives ties
In 2024, a serious controversy arose between India and the Maldives underneath President Muizzu’s administration, following derogatory remarks made by the Maldives’ deputy minister and different officers about Prime Minister Modi’s go to to Lakshadweep. In response, Indians, together with cricketers and movie celebrities, got here out in open assist in selling native seaside locations and different vacationer spots.
The Maldives authorities distanced itself from these feedback, with the Maldivian International Minister Moosa Zameer stating that such remarks towards overseas leaders had been “unacceptable” and didn’t signify the official stance of the federal government.
On Could 9, the Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs confirmed the withdrawal of Indian navy personnel from the Maldives, alongside the “deputation of competent individuals” to the nation. This transfer was in keeping with one among Muizzu’s election guarantees, which included eradicating Indian navy personnel from the nation. Muizzu had said that “no Indian navy personnel,” whether or not in uniform or civilian apparel, would stay within the Maldives after Could 10, 2023, as reported by Maldives-based The Version on March 15, 2023.
Additionally Learn: India imposes ban on ‘Pakistani ships’ amid rising tensions after Pahalgam terror assault
Additionally Learn: Rajnath Singh more likely to skip Russia’s victory day parade amid India-Pakistan tensions, say sources