Defence minister spoke to please BJP; must apologise: Opposition

The opposition PPM on Saturday termed defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi's remarks criticising the party's Hulhumale constituency president Abdul Samad as an attempt to please India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mariya, speaking at a ceremony held on  Friday evening to formally hand over the presidential ticket to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, lashed out at Samad. Mariya's rebukes at Samad, who was at the forefront of the party's 'India Out' activities, referring to the recent deportation of Samad from the country when he was in India for medical purposes. At a time when Mariya's comments have also drawn flak from the public, the party issued a statement condemning the remarks.

"We do not accept a minister's joke on the hardships of a Maldivian son abroad," PPM said in a statement.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the manner in which those holding positions at various levels of the government are calling India praise to please the BJP and humiliating the people of the country in order to please India," the party said in a statement.

PPM feels that Mariya Didi's joke on the harassment faced by a local in a foreign country should be apologised as a citizen, if not a state minister.

Noting that the members of the security forces are there to defend the country's independence, the statement said that no one who has rendered a sincere service in the armed forces or in the police force will ever betray the country. “The alliance does not doubt that they will come out in defence of the country's independence at any time," it said.

"The fact that a person who is known for calling our police and armed forces many names, including helpless birds, and usually makes such jokes, is the defence minister of this government shows the extent to which the government truly appreciates the armed forces and the police," it said, criticising Mariya.

The statement added:

The statement called for an immediate end to such activities.