Nasheed concerned over MDP ridiculing govt for India ties
Nasheed described Shahid's remarks as one made to gain "political points".
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Former President Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday expressed concern that the opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) is bringing up the past instead of welcoming the government's efforts to repair relations between Maldives and India.
Nasheed, who is currently away from politics, responded to his former party's remarks made by the party's President and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid at the party’s National Assembly meeting last week. As such, in his speech Shahid said:
-
When the PPM-PNC was in opposition, they were shouting 'India out' for the last five years
-
Nine months into the PNC government, they are now shouting 'Welcome India'
Nasheed, the former MDP president, did not like Shahid’s remarks. He described the remarks as one made to gain "political points".
"If those who want strong India-Maldives relations do not welcome the change in government policy and mock the government, it shows that they do not want India-Maldives relations. They want to score political points. It shows they can't hold on to policies”, Nasheed said.
While Nasheed, who was a major force behind the MDP's loss of power, made this remark on X, The Democrats party, which he founded, had recently met with President Muizzu and held discussions on cooperation with the government.
The government, which came to power through a campaign called 'India Out', would be 'pro-China' or close to China, international media reported at the time right after President Muizzu won the presidential election. However, President Muizzu has maintained that the policy of this government is 'pro Maldives'.
The reasons behind the deterioration of relations between Maldives and India include:
-
The tradition of every President of Maldives making his first official visit to India ended with President Muizzu as he made his first official visit to India’s rival China
-
The relationship was already strained by three Maldivian deputy ministers who insulted India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media
-
Following this some Indians launched a campaign on social media to boycott Maldivian tourism
The campaign also led to a significant reduction in the number of tourists coming to Maldives from India. Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism and the MMPRC jointly held an event called 'Welcome India' in three Indian cities last week to promote Maldives' tourism.
As the government tries to improve India-Maldives ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Maldives on Friday. On Saturday Jaishankar also called on President Muizzu.
