Indian troops will be forced to leave if margin widens, says Muizz
Muizz said that his government will give top priority to ensuring Maldives' independence.
Indian troops in Maldives will be forced to leave if he wins the upcoming presidential runoff by a huge margin, opposition PPM-PNC presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz said Wednesday.
Muizz made the remarks at a campaign rally in N. Landhoo as part of his campaign tour of the northern atolls for the presidential runoff on September 30.
"According to the law, 50% and one vote wins the election. However, if the margin widens, with a high percentage of votes, for example 60% of votes, we can tell the foreign troops that such a huge amount of people have asked you to leave. It will make a difference,” Muizz said.
Muizz said the presence of Indian troops in Maldives cannot be denied. His rival candidate, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, has also admitted to the presence of foreign troops but by saying that they are in Maldives "not for any military purpose", Muizz said.
"Everyone sees the presence of Indian troops in Maldives. The president himself said in the [presidential] debate that there are troops, but they are not armed, but they are there, just not for military purposes," he said.
"There should be no foreign troops. It is not negotiable. Non-negotiable, there should be no foreign troops."
Muizz said that his government will give top priority to ensuring Maldives' independence. He asked the people to elect him by a large majority to ensure that.
“Therefore, if the majority of the people of Maldives supports the withdrawal of foreign troops, they will be forced to accept my insistence on the withdrawal of Indian troops,” Muizz said.
"My biggest agenda is to get the Indian army out of here. It will be done. But when the people hand over [power to me], if such a large majority of people hand over the power, my mandate will be strong."
