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Defense Minister's strong jabs at former Maldives President over India bilateral ties

Mohamed Rehan
18 February 2022, MVT 16:24
Defense Minister Ms. Didi claims "India Out" campaign poses threats to national security -- Photo: Fayaz Moosa/Mihaaru
Mohamed Rehan
18 February 2022, MVT 16:24

Maldives Minister of Defense has strongly condemned the opposition-led "India Out" campaign, calling out the movement an endorsement to terrorism.

Minister of Defense Ms. Mariya Ahmed Didi directed her strong criticism at the former Maldivian head of state Mr. Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The minister's contested the opposition's movement calling out to repatriate Indian officials and other non-proletariats of the country currently residing in the Maldives.

According to the defense minister, the former president has instigated a terror-inducing movement and accused that the ex-president was endorsing radical philosophies.

Moreover, Ms. Mariya Ahmed Didi claimed that her opinion was coincided unanimously by the top-brass of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) - the country's army.

"We are all on the same page when it comes to this 'India Out' campaign, we know this movement is a threat to the national security," Ms. Didi commented at the Security Forces Committee meeting of the Maldives Parliament.

She laid parallels with the intensifying Russia-Ukraine situation to analogize the "India Out" movement initiated by the opposition.

Furthermore, Ms. Didi had also noted on the important bilateral ties between the two countries and made emphasis on the countless times where India stepped in to provide assistance to the Maldivian government and the public.

She also jibed that while the former president may be capable of seeking medical remedies from countries outside of the regional territory, the common proletariat do not have the luxury of such options.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defense Force Major General Mr. Abdulla Shamaal assured that border safety and security are ensured through unified relations among neighboring states.

The Major General also attested that the Indian military personnel conducting operations in the Maldives are exclusively related to health sector as well as search and rescue.

Defense minister's lambaste did not cease there as she went on to add the former president's exercise of power during his tenure as the country's head of state.

She had called the former president a 'tyrant' stating that Mr. Gayoom had arbitrarily jailed several dissidents, jailed the opposition while his alienation extended beyond the borders to both Commonwealth and Qatar.

Maldives made an exited from Commonwealth during Gayoom's five-year era of the presidency, while the island nation severed ties with the Western Asian state.

In her criticism, Ms. Didi had further alleged that the former president instigated 'India Out' campaign is nothing more than a veiled initiative to dissipate all wrongdoings during his presidency which included nationwide scandals and media hijacking.

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