Democrats, PPM accuse govt of sabotage attempt with 'India Out' banner

In the opposition alliance rally that was held on Friday night to protest the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) verdict in the Chagos-Maldives delimitation case, PPM and The Democrats have accused the government of putting up an 'India Out' banner to sabotage the movement. 

The opposition's India Out movement against the presence of Indian soldiers in the Maldives was initiated under the leadership of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The government later on stopped the movement. Even if such banners were put up, the police go and remove them.

A group of people had put up a similar banner in Male carnival area during the anti-government rally on Friday.

In the area where people had gathered for the rally, the India Out banner was held by a group of youths wearing T-shirts with the same slogan written on them.

In a statement, The Democrats said it was not the party's doing and that it was done by the government to mislead the purpose of the rally.

The Democrats founder, speaker Mohamed Nasheed has been a vocal critic of the India Out movement.

The Democrats said the party would always remain in touch with neighbouring countries and would not do anything that would undermine that relationship.

PPM also condemned the ban on the meeting.

According to PPM:

"It would be a mistake on the part of the government to assume that such cowardly acts will break the consensus against the sale of the sea," the party said in a statement.

The event was attended by The Democrats, PPM and MNP.