The Chhattisgarh

Tag: Maldives

  • Maldivian President Mohammad Muizzu Assures India, Says ‘Will Never Harm…’ | India News

    Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu is on his first official state visit to India. Earlier, he visited India on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in June this year. In an interview with a leading daily, President Muizzu has assured India of its security.

    Maldivian President Mohammad Muizzu said that the island nation wouldn’t do anything that would harm India’s security. President Mohammad Muizzu made a big statement concerning China. He said, India is an important partner of Maldives and the two country’s relationship is based on shared respect and shared interests.

    President Droupadi Murmu accorded a ceremonial welcome to HE Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the President of the Republic of Maldives at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/dZaGg3HslQ — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 7, 2024

    Muizzu held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Ahead of this, he was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi this morning. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Maldivian President and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed as they arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier today.

    Pleased to call on President @MMuizzu today at the start of his State Visit to India.

    Appreciate his commitment to enhance relationship. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will give a new impetus to our friendly ties. pic.twitter.com/UwDjnCZ0t6

    —Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 6, 2024

    Muizzu is on an inaugural five-day bilateral visit to India. President Muizzu, along with the First Lady of Maldives, arrived in India on Sunday for his first bilateral visit to the country.

    #WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu hold a meeting at Hyderabad House.

    (Video: DD News) pic.twitter.com/37567UyJEO — ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2024

    Muizzu also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday here in the national capital. “Jaishankar expressed his pleasure in welcoming President Muizzu to India, for the state visit. President Dr Muizzu conveyed his gratitude to the Indian government for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation upon arrival,” according to the press release from the President’s Office. of Maldives. (With ANI inputs)

  • Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu To Visit India From October 7 | world news

    Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is expected to visit India starting on October 7 as per sources.

    This will mark Muizzu’s first standalone bilateral visit to the country since assuming office last year.

    Recently, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Muizzu told ANI, that he is planning to visit India as soon as possible. He also praised the “very strong” bilateral relationship between the two countries.”

    “I am planning to visit (India) as soon as possible…We have a very strong bilateral relationship,” Muizzu told ANI.

    This will notably be the second time that Muizzu is visiting India this year after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this June.

    It is pertinent to note that earlier almost every Maldivian President used to make his first foreign visit to India, but Muizzu changed the trend by first visiting Turkiye and then China, after assuming office.

    The Mohamed Muizzu government in the Maldives took a conciliatory tone after ties with India soured, leading to a diplomatic row.

    Since coming to power, Muizzu has taken several steps that have been unconventional from the point of view of India-Maldives ties. He ran his entire presidential campaign on the lines of ‘India Out’. The removal of Indian troops from the country was the main election campaign of Muizzu’s party.

  • Seven Months After Lakshadweep Row, Maldives’ Full Throttle Praise For India | world news

    It was in January this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep urging Indians to explore islands of the country. This led to a social media war of words between Indian netizens and Maldivian politicians that escalated into diplomatic tensions. Maldivian President Dr Mohammad Muizzu has been known for his pro-China stance but recently has been trying to take a measured approach while dealing with New Delhi and Beijing.

    Shortly after taking office, Muizzu had demanded that India repatriate its military personnel from his country. Following negotiations, India agreed to withdraw its personnel by the mutually set deadline of May 10, replacing them with civilian staff. This move further strained relations between the two nations.

    Bilateral ties had recently shown signs of improvement following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s three-day visit, which aimed to ease months of tension since the pro-China Muizzu assumed office last November. During his visit earlier this month, Jaishankar met with the top leadership of the archipelagic nation, including President Muizzu. Prior to this, Muizzu had visited New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new government in June.

    The Maldivian Foreign Minister, Moosa Zameer, recently remarked that India has emerged as the world’s largest and most diverse democracy, setting an example that inspires many nations, including the Maldives. Reflecting on the long-standing partnership between Maldives and India, which, he said, is “rooted in its people and strengthened through our active bilateral cooperation,” Zameer reiterated the firm commitment of President Dr Mohammad Muizzu’s government “to strengthen and deepen” the robust relationship between our two countries “for the mutual benefit of our people.” Zameer was speaking as a chief guest at a function on the 78th Independence Day of India in Male.

    Calling it an “honor” to serve as the chief guest at the event, Zameer conveyed warm greetings and best wishes on behalf of President Muizzu, the Government, and the people of the Maldives to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, and the friendly people of India.

    “(I) Congratulated India for their remarkable journey, one of profound significance and inspiration. India has emerged as the world’s largest and most diverse democracy that leads by example inspiring many countries, including the Maldives,” Zameer posted on X after the event. “I reflected on the long-standing partnership between Maldives and India — a partnership rooted in its people and strengthened through our active bilateral cooperation,” he said.

    He reiterated the firm commitment of President Dr Muizzu’s Government to strengthen and deepen the robust relationship between our two countries for the mutual benefit of our people. Zameer, in his longish post, said he also thanked External Affairs Minister Jaishankar for his unwavering support “to enhancing our bilateral ties.” He thanked India’s ambassador to the Maldives Munu Mahawar for hosting the event.

    Mahawar, replying to his post, thanked Zameer for gracing “this celebration of our lasting friendship” and said: “We are confident that under the leadership of PM @narendramodi and President @MMuizzu, our relationship will scale new heights and the bonds of friendship. will become even stronger.” Earlier, the Indian mission said in a post on symphony of Indian and Maldivian vocal and dance performances, including a medley of Indian and Maldivian songs and special dance performances by artists from India and Maldives.

  • In A Big Diplomatic Win For India Against China, Maldives Hands Over 28 Islands To New Delhi For This Reason |

    India’s relations with Maldives hit a new low this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep and Maldivian politicians got irked. This saw a sharp decline in Indian tourists visiting Maldives. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu came to power riding on the ‘India Out’ campaign and has been a pro-China stance. But, the island nation appears to have realized its mistake and is now willing to make peace with India.

    Improving Bilateral Ties

    External Affairs Minister Jaishankar concluded his visit to the Maldives yesterday. During his time in Malé, Jaishankar signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focused on capacity building and inaugurated six High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs). Among the MoUs exchanged were agreements for the capacity building of an additional 1,000 Maldivian civil servants in India and the introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the Maldives. The six HICDPs, supported by Indian grant assistance, cover areas such as mental health, special education, speech therapy, and street lighting, and were jointly inaugurated.

    Concluded a productive visit to Maldives!

    Living up to the message of our ties: ‘Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India’.

    Some highlights: pic.twitter.com/RmdM3WLSoj
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 12, 2024

    28 Islands To India Deal

    EAM Jaishankar and the Foreign Minister jointly inaugurated, in the presence of President Muizzu, India’s Line of Credit (LoC)-assisted project of water and sewerage network in 28 islands of Maldives. While Muizzu has now allowed India to carry out development work in 28 islands, it was his government that earlier ousted Indian troops and technical workers from Male. 

    Budget Assistance To Maldives

    The Union Budget 2024 presented on July 23 revealed a significant 48 per cent reduction in aid to this island nation for the 2024-25 fiscal year compared to the previous year. The current fiscal allocation designates Rs 400 crore as “grants” to the Maldives, a substantial decrease from the Rs 770 crore provided last year. This allocation is also Rs 200 crore less than what was proposed in the interim budget presented in February 2024.

    Muizzu Hails India

    President Mohamed Muizzu appreciated India’s continued developmental assistance to the Maldives and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening the India-Maldives relationship further. During Jaishankar’s visit, the Maldivian side appreciated India’s support for the overall development of Maldives, including social, infrastructural, and financial sectors.

  • Planning A Holiday In Maldives? Think Twice As Crime Against Tourists On A Rise, Indians Attacked |

    Maldives was a favourite tourist destination for Indians. However, things have taken a bitter turn of events since the pro-China government led by Mohamed Muizzu came to power in Maldives. Muizzu came to power riding on ‘India Out’ campaign. The relations between India and Maldives turned sour in January this year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep in a bid to promote domestic tourism. However, Maldivian leaders mocked India and made insulting remarks against PM Modi. Since then, the number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives has declined but still, many Indians are visiting the island nation.

    However, the country doesn’t look safe as radical elements have become more active there, show some recent incidents and various reports. In a recent incident, a couple of Indians were attacked by Maldivians after a minor altercation near Central Park in Hulhumale. In another incident, an Israeli woman was targeted in the Maldives and was forced to leave the country, according to reports. 

    Israeli tourist tried to enter one of the islands in the Maldives for a holiday while her country commits genocide. She was kicked out by local island community and last reports indicate she was on her way back to the airport after realizing humanity does not welcome them anymore pic.twitter.com/PsKcUYp9UB
    — Muad M Zaki (@muadmzaki) April 30, 2024

    While the tensions between India and Maldives have increased, Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameer is likely to visit India next week. If Zameer visits India, it will be the first high-level tour by either side since Muizzu took office last year. Muizzu has already visited China but is yet to visit India. As per reports, a request regarding his visit is pending with New Delhi. 

    According to reports, Zameer is likely to take up debt payment issues with India seeking leniency on the repayment term. Successive Maldivian governments have taken loans from India from time to time. Muizzu, since taking over power, has limited defence ties with India while leaning towards China. 

  • ‘Stop Being Stubborn, Seek Dialogue With Neighbors…’: Ex-Maldives President Solih To Muizzu | world news

    Male: Former Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has advised President Mohamed Muizzu to stop being “stubborn” and seek dialogue with neighboring nations to overcome financial challenges, Maldives-based Adhadhu reported.

    While addressing an event in Male to gather support for Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentary candidates contesting four constituencies in Maafannu, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said he had seen media reports that indicate Muizzu wants to speak to India about debt restructuring.

    He further said that the financial challenges of the country have not been caused by Indian loans. Solih noted that the Maldives owed a debt of MVR 18 billion to China while the nation has a debt of MVR 8 billion owed to India and added that the repayment period is 25 years, according to the report in that Adhadhu news portal.

    “However, I am confident that our neighbors will help. We must stop being stubborn and seek dialogue. There are many parties that can help us. But he [Muizzu] Doesn’t want to compromise. I feel them [the government] are starting to understand the situation only now,” he stated.

    Solih said that neighbors and Islamic nations from the Middle East will help the Maldives. In a sarcastic tone, he said that the Maldives has so far received only 50 tonnes of dates from the Middle East due to the actions of the Muizzu-led government, Adhadhu reported.

    He accused the Maldives’ current government of deceiving people and relaunching projects started by the MDP government. He accused ministers of lying to cover up those lies. Solih said, “It seems they [ministers] were summoned two days ago and he [Muizzu] said ‘I have become a liar in front of the people now. “None of you care about me.”

    Notably, ties between India and the Maldives have been strained since Muizzu assumed office as he criticized New Delhi during and after the presidential polls. Last week, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has requested New Delhi for debt relief measures, while stating that India will continue to remain Maldives’ “closest ally,” local media reported.

    He further claimed that he has “not taken any action nor made any statements” that may strain the relationship between the two countries. In an interview with local media ‘Mihaaru’, President Muizzu said that he hopes India will accommodate debt relief measures for the Maldives’ in the repayment of the hefty loans taken from the country over consecutive governments, Adhadhu reported.

    “The conditions we have inherited are such that there are very large loans taken from India. Hence, we are holding discussions to explore leniencies in the repayment structure of these loans. Instead of halting any ongoing projects, proceed with them at speed. So I see no reason for any adverse effects [on Maldives-India relations],” he said. Notably, this was Maldives President Muizzu’s first interview since assuming office.

  • ‘Not Even In Civilian Clothes’: President Mohamed Muizzu Sets May 10 Deadline For Indian Troops To Leave Maldives |

    Male: Hardening his stance, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has now said that no Indian military personnel will remain in the island nation past May 10, regardless of whether they are in uniform or civilian attire. According to The Edition, President Muizzu while addressing the residential community of Baa Atoll Eydhafushi said that the Indian military will not reside in Maldives in any form of clothing after May 10. He added said those who spread false rumours are trying to twist the situation.

    Muizzu said, “That these people [Indian military] are not departing, that they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing. We must not indulge such thoughts that instill doubts in our hearts and spread lies,” The Edition reported.

    “There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence,” he added.

    Opposition Criticism 

    Muizzu’s statement comes amidst escalating criticism from the Opposition, which alleged that the Indian military personnel are surreptitiously operating within the Maldives. However, the President maintained that discussions between the two nations have facilitated the orderly withdrawal of Indian military forces.

    Shifting Dynamics In Regional Politics

    President Muizzu’s stance underscores a broader shift in regional dynamics, with Maldives increasingly gravitating towards China and distancing itself from traditional ally India. Muizzu’s electoral promise of ‘India Out’ reflects this evolving geopolitical landscape.

    Diplomatic Efforts And Continued Cooperation

    Despite the tensions, diplomatic channels remain open, with both India and Maldives engaging in constructive dialogue to address concerns and find mutually beneficial solutions. The recent arrival of Indian technical personnel signals a commitment to maintaining essential services while respecting Maldives’ sovereignty.

    Optimism Amidst Challenges

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has expressed confidence in diplomatic resolutions during a recent event, affirming that misunderstandings can be overcome through dialogue. Highlighting the humanitarian role of Indian aviation platforms in Maldives, Jaishankar underscored the importance of cooperation amidst evolving circumstances.

    Path Forward: Diplomacy And Collaboration

    As both nations navigate complex geopolitical waters, the resolution of tensions surrounding the Indian military presence in Maldives remains a priority. Continued dialogue and cooperation hold the key to addressing differences and fostering a stable, mutually beneficial relationship.

  • Maldives’ 2 Main Opposition Parties To Boycott Muizzu’s Presidential Statement | world news

    As the political turmoil continues in the Maldives, the island nation’s two main opposition parties–the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats Party–have chosen not to attend the presidential statement scheduled for February 5, Maldives-based media outlet Mihaaru. reported. The majority-holding MDP in parliament has not yet disclosed the purpose of the boycott.

    However, the Democrats released a statement explaining their decision to abstain from the meeting due to the re-appointment of the three ministers who had been rejected by parliament.

    This is the first session of Parliament this year. The presidential statement will be made on Monday at 9 am by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, according to Mihaaru.

    According to the outlet, more than one member of the MDP parliamentary group has confirmed the decision. The President is required by the Constitution to address Parliament at the first session of the first term of the year, outlining the state of the nation and outlining his recommendations for how to bring improvements.

    Quite recently, two opposition parties in the Maldives came out against the current regime over its ‘stark’ anti-India pivot. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats jointly issued a joint press statement, labeling the shift in foreign policy as ‘extremely detrimental’ to the country’s long-term development.

    The statement served to reassert and affirm the opposition’s belief that “alienating any development partner, and especially the country’s most long-standing ally will be extremely detrimental to the long-term development of the country”.

    The opposition further underlined that “stability and security in the Indian Ocean is vital to the stability and security of the Maldives.” Both the MDP and The Democrats emphasized the critical need for consecutive governments to maintain the ability “to work with all development partners for the benefit of the people of the Maldives, as the Maldives has traditionally done”.

  • Amid Chinese `Spy` Vessel`s Movement Towards Maldives, Indian Navy Sends Its Submarine To Sri Lanka

    INS ‘Karanj’ – a submarine of the Indian Navy arrived at the port of Colombo yesterday on a formal visit. The visiting submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in the precision of naval traditions.

  • Big Setback For Maldivian President Muizzu; Parliament To Hold Impeachment Motion Against Him world news

    In a big setback for Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, the opposition party which holds a majority in the country’s Parliament, has gathered enough signatures to submit a motion to impeach the President. According to a statement attributed to a legislator from the MDP, the MDP and Democrats have collaborated to collect signatures for an impeachment resolution. A collective endorsement of 34 members, comprising representatives from both the MDP and Democrats, has been secured for the motion seeking the president’s impeachment, which was interrupted amid yesterday’s turmoil in the Maldivian parliament.

    According to reports, the MDP had decided it would deny approval to Ali Ihusan, the home minister, and Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, the defense minister, if government lawmakers continued to disrupt the Parliament. Meanwhile, after a skirmish between political leaders inside the Maldivian Parliament, heavy police arrangements have been made to tighten the security in the parliament ahead of today’s session, according to Adhahadhu.

    A video disseminated by the media depicted police personnel gathering outside the Parliament complex, equipped with protective shields. On Sunday, the Maldives Parliament experienced unrest as members of the government’s PPM/PNC party disrupted the proceedings and the Speaker. A pivotal vote regarding parliamentary approval for the Muizzu government was slated for that Sunday.

    As dramatic visuals surfaced on social media from Male, a fight between MDP MP Isa and PNC MP Abdullah Shaheem, Abdul Hakeem was seen. According to reports, one video showcased Shaheem gripping Isa’s leg and the two falling together, whereas another visual that went viral on social media showed Isa kicking Shaheem’s neck and pulling his hair.

    The ruling coalition parties, the PNC and the PPP, released a statement portraying the ministers’ refusal as an obstacle to the delivery of public services.