Too early to criticise govt on Indian troops removal, Gasim says

It is too early to criticise the government for not removing Indian troops in Maldives as the then opposition and the current government advocated in the last presidential election, Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim said on Wednesday.

President Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a runoff after promising to remove a small Indian military presence of some 77 personnel.

The new government, which came to power on November 17, has formally requested India to remove its troops, with President Muizzu saying that India has agreed to withdraw the troops. 

Gasim who raised the issue of Indian troops during his unsuccessful presidential campaign for the September election made the remarks in response to questions from journalists outside the President's Office after his meeting with President Mohamed Muizzu.

"Look, the president said that he is doing the work. I also told him about the work. He said that the work is being carried out. It cannot be completed overnight," he said.

Gasim said:

Meanwhile, Maldives has given notice to India to cancel a hydrography agreement signed by the previous government, giving access to India to study and chart the island nation's seabed.

The agreement will terminate on June 4, 2024.