Gasim blames Nasheed, Yameen for igniting India-Maldives row

India-Maldives relations have deteriorated so much that Indian Coast Guard have entered Maldivian waters and boarded Maldivian fishing boats, and former Presidents Mohammed Nasheed and Abdullah Yameen is to blame, Jumhoory Party (JP) leader and Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim said in parliament on Monday.

Gasim was speaking while debating an emergency motion in Parliament alleging that the government had not provided adequate information about the Indian navy boarding local fishing boats and the Chinese research vessel en-route to the Maldives.

Gasim said the Indian navy's actions inside the Maldives economic zone were very sad indeed. However, he pointed out that it was Nasheed's government which allowed India to bring in helicopters to the island nation, which according to him was the beginning of the current predicament.

"The past very clearly shows when and how we slid off the constitution. And now we’re seeing newspapers publishing stories on how the Indian army will board Male as well, and not only the fishing boats”, he said, defending the current government and attacking Nasheed.

"Encouraging like this. And after having ruled this country, and having worked as Speaker of this parliament until recently, yes it is ‘Canary-ge’-Mohamed Nasheed, President Nasheed I'm talking about ".

Nasheed had said that Indian troops will not only board fishing boats but will also reach Male if the Maldives allows Chinese vessels and speaks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said this in a Whatsapp group.

Gasim said Nasheed's comments were mortifying to the country. He described it as encouraging India to do it as well.

“On the other hand, the first helicopter was brought here during his rule, including the foreign troops, and against the Constitution and the laws,” he said.

Gasim said foreign troops could be stationed in Maldives only with the approval of the Parliament. Since that wasn't done, it was in violation of the Constitution and laws, he added.

Gasim said the same was done in Yameen's government. He said Yameen had ignited the now raging fire between the two nations.

"Now, recently, the fire between the people of India and the people of Maldives was ignited by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who was the leader of the party and then president. This is a fact that we can see," he said.

Having contested three presidential elections so far and losing in the first round every time, Gasim stands with President Muizzu today. Therefore, he spoke in defense of President Muizzu during Monday's session. He said:

“So, it is clear that President Muizzu is not going to do it [cancel the resolution the way Yameen wanted it]. And today he does not want to talk about such things”, Gasim said.