Emphasizing India's quick aid during multiple crises faced by Maldives, former President Nasheed has apologized to India due to the strained relations between the two countries.
While in India today, former President Mohamed Nasheed has requested forgiveness of India on behalf of Maldivians for the strained political relations between the two countries.
During an interview given to Asian News International amid his trip to India, Nasheed, who has declared he is taking a hiatus from the country’s political scene following his assumption of the role of Secretary General of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), stated that Maldives’ tourism has been affected negatively due to the heated diplomatic dispute between Maldives and India.
He expressed concerns of the Indian calls for boycotting Maldives and apologized to India in the name of Maldivians while further encouraging Indian tourists to continue their visits to Maldives.
“Our wish is for Indians to visit Maldives for the holidays; our hospitality will remain unchanged,” Nasheed had said.
The insulting and critical comments of three Deputy Ministers of Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Art Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoon Maajid over a social media post by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoting tourism in Lakshadweep had descended Maldives and India into a heated dispute. Amid criticism targeted towards them, the three Deputy Ministers were suspended from their State positions under full pay last January and remains in suspension to date.
Nasheed stated that State officials speaking in such manners, in language far more suited to political activists, is a matter of deep concern and maintained that this must be resolved at an expedited pace.
Nasheed further highlighted that India had never refused the removal of their military officials present in Maldives to operate helicopters and Dornier aircrafts amid initial talks of such a procedure.
He stated that India had requested to deliberate and resolve the issue as well, maintaining that such is the conduct of a responsible government.
Nasheed had remarked India as the fastest to provide aid for Maldives amid the attack of November 3, 1988, water disaster, as well as Covid-19, and beseeched to cease deliberations of returning the helicopters and Dornier aircrafts gifted to Maldives by India.
He stated that the loans withdrawn from India’s greatest rival, China, is accumulating in Maldives and further maintained that the price of the projects are also high. Insisting that this will result in failure of projects and loss of investments, Nasheed had maintained that the country may also be descended into a difficult state amid the settlement of loans. He added that consequently, this could cause the country to issue sovereign guarantees and provide equity, further causing loss of Maldives' sovereignty.
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