Yameen has stated that the derogatory remarks of three deputy ministers of the State were what fueled the India-Maldives feud as opposed to claims that it was the 'India Out' campaign he had initiated.
Former president Abdulla Yameen stated that the interrelations between India and Maldives were soured not due to the campaign of “India Out” run by the then opposing coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC), but the ill-mannered conduct of people in responsible positions of the State.
During last night's People’s National Front (PNF) rally, he said that India had had no quandaries over the “India out” campaign during all that time.
“What is happening now is that some people who were performing responsible positions of the State had directed insults [to the Prime Minister of India, Modi] that was unbelievably audacious and insolent, clearly outside of societal standards. That is what the Indian government could not accept," Yameen opined.
Yameen was pointing at the social media responses of three deputy ministers of the Youth Ministry, Malsha Shareef, Maryam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom towards the Prime Minister’s social media post to promote the Lakshadweeb tourism programme. These three individuals are now facing suspension due to their mockery of Prime Minister Modi.
Yameen said that these individuals had directed ill-mannered and demeaning words towards the Prime Minister of India. He said that that was what India could not accept.
“However, India had not perceived the India Out Campaign as a problem all these days. Even the Indian civilians believed that the Indian military did not belong here,” Yameen said.
Yameen had also responded to the criticism directed at him regarding the campaign by the leader of Jumhooree Party (JP), Qasim Ibrahim.
Responding to Qasim’s accusation that Yameen was the one who sowed discord between the two countries, he said that he was proud of it but did not accept that it was an act of sowing discord.
“I do not accept that it counts as causing discord. I took a stand on a national call. Today, owners of fishing boats will now agree that I had taken a stand for the nation.”
Yameen said that despite this government assuming office under the claim that they will not allow any Indian military presence, what is being seen is an entirely different scene after they came to power.
Yameen had directed criticism towards the agreement between the two countries to allow Indian civilians to operate the aircrafts in Maldives following the removal of the military presence.
“The government was talking about this. Now they are saying the Indian military cannot stay in uniform to operate these aircrafts and conduct other activities, but that it is okay to stay as civilians,” Yameen said.
Yameen had expressed concerns regarding the failure of the government to annul the resolution passed by the former government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s leadership to ban the phrase “India out.”
Yameen said that the people’s desires to expel the Indian military presence from the country was made evident during the expansion of the [then] opposing parties’ India out activities to local islands, which had seen wide participation from the residents.
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