2024-03-30 09:42:26
Male: Elections are going to be held in Maldives in April. President Mohammad Muizzu is making big allegations against the opposition. He has taken many steps which have spoiled his relations with India. Now he has made a big allegation that the President immediately before him, Ibrahim Mohammad Solih, used to work on the orders of the ‘foreign ambassador’. However, he avoided taking the name of any country. Mohammed Muizzu came to power in Maldives last year. He is a pro-China leader. On Thursday, he gave an interview on the government media of Maldives. It is believed that he was targeting India only. Solih was the President during 2018–23. Muizzu responded to opposition criticism over the drone deal with Turkey, saying Solih acted on the orders of a foreign ambassador. This resulted in ‘extensive damage’. He did not say which country he was referring to. Muizzu further said, ‘We had lost all kinds of freedom including economic. We are doing what the people of Maldives want. In such a situation, it is clear that he will not accept our efforts.
Muizzu came out against India
The Solih government had a policy of ‘India First’. Maldives was a major beneficiary of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. During Solih’s tenure, India spent billions of dollars in development and infrastructure projects in the Maldives. India also donated aircraft and helicopters to Maldives. It used to complete rescue and medical operations in Maldives. About 80 Indian military personnel were deployed to operate these aircraft. During the presidential elections last year, Muizzu ran a campaign related to the withdrawal of these soldiers.
Turkey donated drones worth crores to Maldives, is there a big conspiracy near India?
‘Maldives’ independence was in foreign hands’
Muizzu won the election in the name of anti-India. India recently replaced military personnel operating helicopters with civilian personnel. The remaining military personnel will also be withdrawn by May. Muizzu said in the interview that Solih’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had a supermajority in parliament, but it failed to protect the independence of the Maldives and left it in the hands of a foreign country. Recently Maldives has purchased drones from Türkiye. The opposition says that its price should be disclosed. Muizzu said that he believes in transparency, but military secrets like the price of drones purchased by Maldives are not disclosed.