Deputy minister criticised for saying Maldives is part of India

Deputy transport minister Saudhullah Ahmed has come under fire for saying in an interview to an Indian daily that the Maldives is a part of India.

Saudhullah gave the interview to the New Indian during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. It was not immediately clear if Saudhullah attended the convention in an official capacity.

According to some unconfirmed media reports, Saudhullah attended the convention for Indians living outside the country at the invitation of industries and infrastructure forum in Madhya Pradesh. The forum is a state government body that plays the role of a mediator for investors in Madhya Pradesh.

In the interview, when asked by a reporter how he describes India-Maldives relations, Saudhullah replied that he believes that the two countries share a family relationship.

"I think Maldives-India is like as a family. Like we work together as long time back. After 1965 I think the India was the first country who was recognise the Maldives as a independent. So from there to till now the India and the Maldives is like as a family, father and mothers, and so we feel like be proud with our Indians and India is one of the country helping to the Maldives in different sectors like medicals, educations and developing other industrials. So we are great to be a part of India," Saudhullah said in the interview.

The video, which has now gone viral on social media, has drawn flak from many who expressed their opinion on Saudhullah's comments.

One of them is Mohamed Saeed, MP from Maavashu constituency. In a tweet containing a video clip containing Saudhullah's comments, Saeed, who is also the vice-president of the opposition coalition's PNC, said President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Saudhullah were "very similar" and that the interviewer was shocked.

A Twitter user commenting on  the thread asked, "Can somebody please let the Minister know that we are not a part of India?"

Some were unhappy and even questioned the level of high-level appointments made by the government. The tweets, which used some harsh words, also claimed that Saudhullah had become a "traitor" to the country. 

Another story that caught attention from the interview was Saudhullah's statement "in favour" of the use of the Indian rupee in trading transactions. When asked about this, Saudhullah replied that it would not only make it easier for local businesses that bring goods from India but also make it easier for Indian nationals living in the maldives.

Saudhullah's comments drew criticism from the public and the opposition, and the president's office spokesman Miuvan Mohamed did not immediately respond to a question on whether Saudhullah had attended the convention to represent the government and the government's word on his remarks.