India expresses 'deep dismay' over extension of emergency in Maldives

A day after President Abdulla Yameen's government in the  Maldives ignored India's call and extended the State of Emergency in the island nation, New Delhi expressed its dismay on the same.

New Delhi on Wednesday said that it was "deeply dismayed" by the extension of the State of Emergency by the Government of Maldives for 30 more days.

It also expressed concern over delay in resumption of political process and restoration of normalcy in Maldives an island nation, which has over the past few years emerged as yet another theatre of competition between India and China for expansion of geopolitical influence.

"We are deeply dismayed that the Government of Maldives has extended the State of Emergency for a further 30 days," Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said.

The Majlish or Parliament of the Indian Ocean archipelago approved the extension of the State of Emergency for 30 more days on Tuesday, with only 38 members, all owing allegiance to the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives or the PPM, being present in the House.

The Opposition MPs had boycotted the extraordinary sessions of the Majlish on Monday and Tuesday.

The validity of the parliamentary approval, however, came under question as the Constitution of Maldives required the support of at least 43 members of the Majlish to get the emergency extended.

"The manner in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern," Kumar said in a statement issued in New Delhi.

Yameen had imposed the 15-day "State of Emergency" in Maldives on February 5 and it would come to its end on Tuesday.

However, on Monday, Yameen sought parliamentary approval for extension of the emergency.

Just before the Majlish met in Male on Tuesday, New Delhi called upon Male not to seek an extension of the state of emergency and to pave way for resumption of the political process in Maldives.

Yameen, however, ignored New Delhi's advice and the got the parliamentary approval for extension of the State of Emergency late in the evening on Tuesday.

"The consequent delay in the resumption of the political process and the continuing suspension of the functioning of democratic institutions including the judiciary is likely to further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives," the MEA spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"It is important to ensure that all democratic institutions are allowed to function in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution," he said.

Yameen imposed the State of Emergency after the Supreme Court on February 1 ordered release of all political prisoners and reinstated the 12 Opposition MPs who had earlier been stripped off membership of the Majlish.

Ignoring calls by India, US, UK and rest of the international community, his government declined to abide by the order of the Supreme Court, arrested the Chief Justice of the apex court and imposed the state of emergency in the island nation.