Indian aircraft won't carry patients from March, Maldives pres says

President Mohammed Muizzu said on Saturday that from next March, patients will not be transported in Maldives by the helicopter or Dornier aircraft deputed by India, which have been used in the last five years for medical emergencies.

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Velana International Airport (VIA) after returning to Maldives from his state visit to China.

"An air ambulance will hopefully start flying on March 1 to carry patients in medical emergencies. Not a [Indian] helicopter, not a Dornier. Our [Maldivian] Dash 8 aircraft is already being prepared for it," he said.

Maldivian government has asked the Indian government to give a date for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Male  by March.

According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in Maldives.

President Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a runoff after promising to remove Indian military presence from the Maldives.

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. 

However, since then a diplomatic row had erupted after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a video of his recent visit to Lakshadweep to promote tourism in the region.

Some Indians have said that Modi's video was released to tell people that Indians do not have to go to Maldives for holidays and can experience the beauty of Maldives while staying in their own country.

Authorities in Maldives have suspended three deputy ministers who have come under fire for their posts on X in which they are seen verbally abusing Modi and India.