Govt mum on defence minister's 'derogatory' remarks on PPM official's deportation

Government on Sunday declined to comment on defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi's remarks criticising PPM's Hulhumale constituency president Abdul Samad who was deported from India, amid a public backlash.

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, referred 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, presidential spokesperson Miuvan Mohamed declined to comment on the matter on Sunday.

Samad, who has been spearheading the opposition's 'India Out' activities, was detained inside a hospital in the country by Indian immigration officials. He was sent back two days later.

Speaking to reporters after returning to Maldives last week, Samad with emotion said he was a son of this sovereign nation he loved, who had served in the armed forces for a long time.

"Popular in the media lately, a man who had been out on the streets every night calling against the Indian military, seen on the front lines, the man shaved off his beard, and with preparation had gone to the country with his family," Mariya said at Friday's event, referring to Samad.

Mariya then mocked Samad for having returned home and publicly crying at the airport. Mariya described it as cowardly.

Meanwhile, 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).