India on Monday expressed concern over the “arrest and manhandling” of former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed by the police of the archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean.
“We are concerned over recent developments in the Maldives, including the arrest and manhandling of former president Nasheed,” spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Syed Akbaruddin, said in New Delhi.
Nasheed’s arrest and consequent protests by the workers of his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in Male may cast a shadow over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to the island nation next month.
New Delhi is understood to be assessing the situation in Maldives, where political tension between the MDP and President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s Progressive Party has been on the rise and reached a flashpoint with the arrest of Nasheed on Sunday.
Tension ran high in Male even on Monday when Nasheed was escorted to the Criminal Court for trial, as the former president was seen falling on the ground and being forcefully dragged to court by police with his shirt torn open.
Nasheed was charged with terrorism for detaining the then Criminal Court chief judge Abdulla Mohamed three years ago, when he was president of Maldives.
“We urge all concerned to calm the situation and resolve their differences within the constitutional and legal framework of Maldives,” said Akbaruddin.
Nasheed sought political asylum in India just a few days before he was arrested. New Delhi, however, did not respond to the request, ostensibly to avoid a diplomatic row with Gayoom’s administration in Male.
“The Government of India reiterates its commitment to supporting the people and the Government of Maldives in their quest for peace, development, prosperity and democracy,” added the MEA spokesperson.
Maldives is one of the four Indian Ocean nations the prime minister is planning to visit next month, the others being Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka.
Sources told Deccan Herald that New Delhi might have to rethink on the prime minister’s visit to Maldives if political tension in the island nation did not simmer down by then.
DH News Service
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks