Maldives' Embattled Govt Accuses India of 'Distorting Facts' About Emergency
Ties between India and Maldives soured after New Delhi rejected to host President Yameen's special envoy to brief the Modi government about the current crisis.
Male, Feb 24: In what signals the further deterioration of diplomatic ties between India and Maldives, the island nation on Thursday accused New Delhi of "distorting facts" about the emergency imposed by President Abdulla Yameen.
The statement issued by Maldives Foreign Ministry appealed all friendly nations, including India, to "refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country".
On India's criticism of President Yameen's decision to extend the emergency by 30 days on Tuesday, Male said New Delhi is issuing statements without taking into consideration the prevailing condition in Maldives.
"The Government of Maldives takes note of the public statements issued by the Government of India that ignore the facts and ground realities with regard to the ongoing political developments in the Maldives," the statement said.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which had earlier called the situation in Maldives as "disturbing", reiterated its disapproval on Wednesday, claiming that the extension of emergency "is in contravention with the Constitution" of the nation.
"We would continue to urge the government of Maldives to release political prisoners, release the Chief Justice, implement the Supreme Court order and restore the normal functioning of the institutions of democracy," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar reiterated today.
The emergency in Maldives was imposed on February 5, after the Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Hamid Ali, had annulled the conviction of nine opposition leaders, including exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed. The apex court judge also reinstated the parliamentary membership of 12 rebel lawmakers, who had defected from Yameen's ruling party.
Had the top court's order been implemented, Yameen was bound to lose majority in the Parliament which would had necessitated the formation of a new government.
After the emergency was imposed, Yameen's army launched a crackdown, putting behind the bars the Supreme Court's Chief Justice, accusing him of bribery. A slew of opposition leaders were also taken into custody for organising protests against the President.
A special seating of the Supreme Court was called after the arrest of Justice Hamid Ali, which annulled all the unfavorable verdicts issued by him on February 1.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2018 11:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).