Former President of Maldives Mohammed Nasheed has fiercely targeted the Muizzu government. He said the Maldives government led by pro-China leader Mohammed Muizzu will soon settle down and its “foreign policies and relations with India will return to normal as usual.” Nasheed is currently in India and met PM Modi on Thursday night. He also expressed concerns about the impact of the Indians’ ‘Boycott Maldives‘ campaign. The boycott was initiated after some Maldivian MPs made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi while he was on a visit to Lakshadweep.
Mohammed Nasheed highlighted the impact of the boycott on the Maldives, saying, “It has affected the Maldives a lot, and I am actually here in India. I am very concerned about it. I want to say that the people of the Maldives are sorry. ” We are sorry that this happened. We want Indian people to come to Maldives on their holidays and there will be no change in our hospitality.
Reflecting on historical ties, Nasheed underlined India’s responsible approach during past challenges, saying, “When the President of Maldives wanted Indian military personnel to leave, you know what India did? They took our arms. He didn’t display his strength.” But asked to discuss with Maldives government. This is the action of a responsible superpower. This is not a ‘threatening’ move.”
India-Maldives relations have suffered a setback since Muizzu assumed power last year. Hours after taking oath in November 2023, Muizzu vowed to ensure the “sovereignty” of Maldives and the first step was to demand India withdraw all its troops. He also broke tradition and decided to go to China instead of India on his first trip abroad. The opposition in the Maldives has repeatedly hit out at Muizzoo for his ‘anti-India’ stance and criticized him for steering the country’s foreign policies towards China.
#FPVideo: Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed apologised to India amid simmering diplomatic ties between the two countries. Nasheed said “We are sorry” and expressed concerns over the repercussions of India’s recent boycott calls. pic.twitter.com/qztmtXdqUs
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He stressed that India-Maldives relations are people-based and not government-centric. “There are many similarities in the culture of India and Maldives. The relations are really people-to-people, not government-to-government,” he said. He said, “In South Asia, it happens a lot when governments change, we go from one side to the other but I think it is important that we keep our relations in a straight line.
Former president of MaldivesMohamed Nasheed apologises to India, expressed concerns on “Boycott Maldives”
Unfortunately, the new government has inherited the anti-India sentiment and the same rhetoric they used in the elections, however, I believe once they (the current Maldives government) settle down they will understand the intricacies of governance, so Nasheed, our first democratically elected President of Maldives, said, “Foreign policies and relations with India will continue as usual.”
The former President also recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “I met the Prime Minister last night. PM Modi wished us all the best. I am a big supporter of PM Narendra Modi and I wish him all the best.” Nasheed also urged President Mohammad Muizzu to stop talks on Dornier flight and helicopters and said, “It is very unfortunate that President Muizzu held these discussions. I will call him to please stop these discussions on Dornier flight and helicopters.
Nasheed also urged President Mohammad Muizzu to stop talks on Dornier flight and helicopters and said, “It is very unfortunate that President Muizzu held these discussions. I will call him to please stop these discussions on Dornier flight and helicopters.” “Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed also spoke on the recently signed defense agreement between Maldives and China.”He said that I do not think this is a defense agreement.
I think Muizzu wanted to buy some equipment, mainly rubber bullets and tear gas. However it is very unfortunate that the government thought that more tear gas and more rubber bullets were needed. Governments don’t run with guns