Will work with parties that want to maintain ties with JP: Qasim

Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim has said that JP will work with other political parties only to the extent that they are given the space and opportunity.

Speaking with the press, Qasim said that JP is not a party that will collaborate with those who do not want to work with JP, but will join those who do.

When asked whether he would form a coalition with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's party, Qasim said he would not take any decision on his own, but instead would do so after consultation with the party council.

Last month, Qasim also met with President Dr. Muizzu at the President's Office, where he assured the President that he would cooperate with him within the legal framework. However, Qasim said that he would call out the President if he does something wrong.

Qasim said that President Dr. Muizzu should apologize for his remarks about India following his state visit to China.

He referred to President Muizzu's remarks to the press at Velana International Airport after concluding his first state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Dr. Muizzu said that he was working to end Aasandha being only available in medical facilities in a “certain country” and would expand the service to cities such as Dubai and Bangkok. He said Maldives does not lie in the "backyard" of any particular country and cannot be bullied even if it is a small nation.

President Muizzu's comments came at a time when Maldives-India relations had strained amid calls to boycott Maldives following a video released by India to promote Indian tourism.

When asked about it at a press conference organized by JP last evening, Qasim defended India's long-standing ties with the Maldives, and said that even if President Muizzu had not used India's name in his speech, it still is unacceptable

Qasim said that he does not agree with some of the points raised in President Muizzu's speech.

He said he could not agree with the President's statement that Dubai and Bangkok were better places than those currently under the Aasandha scheme and added that India is more advanced in healthcare, and Indian medicines are exported even to Europe.

"They are not as developed to be up to par with Indian doctors and facilities, while also being 80 percent more expensive," Qasim said.

Therefore, it is not appropriate to imply that medicine will not be imported from a particular country, he said.

"I would like to request the President to make an official apology to the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi for the few points of his remarks following his state visit to China," Qasim said.

Relations between Maldives and India have deteriorated in recent months, and people from the two countries have criticized each other on social media after three Deputy Ministers of the Maldives made derogatory comments against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a video released to promote Indian tourism. Although the Deputy Ministers were suspended in the case, the President did not directly address the issue during the press conference held after his state visit to China.

JP, which was part of the ruling coalition in the previous administration, has maintained close relations with the current administration. The Progressive Party of Maldives and People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) has decided not to contest in three constituencies in the upcoming parliamentary elections, including the Maamigili constituency, which Qasim currently represents.