The already ongoing tension in relations between India and Maldives has increased further over the “derogatory” comments made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, a news has come out that before the current crisis, Maldives had proposed President Mohammed Muizzu’s visit to India at the end of this month.
It is believed that if everything had gone well, Maldivian President Muizzu could have visited India by the end of this month. Let us tell you that President Muizzu took office in November last year.
Since coming to power, he has so far visited Turkey, UAE and China. His foreign trips are a departure from the decades-old tradition of Maldives. In fact, earlier the newly elected President of Maldives used to choose India for his first foreign tour.
Maldives had proposed his visit to India before the current diplomatic crisis erupted over derogatory comments by ministers of the Muizzoo government, WION reported.
The President of Maldives is currently on a week-long visit to China where he visited the Xiamen Free Trade Zone in Fijian Province and met senior officials of China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC).
In addition, meetings were held with prominent Chinese political figures, including Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Party Committee, and Zhao Long, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Fujian Province. Later during his visit he will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
President Muizzu’s government has come to power riding on the anti-India issue. Muizzu has called on India to withdraw its troops from the country.
The current government of the island nation has also not renewed the hydrographic agreement with India. The move, coupled with derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has further strained bilateral relations.
The Maldivian government has suspended the ministers involved in the offensive comments incident in response to controversial statements and has distanced itself from those comments. Bilateral relations between India and Maldives were positive before the Muizzu government assumed power.
India has consistently supported various aid projects in Maldives. Especially during important moments like the 1988 coup attempt and the 2004 tsunami, India strongly supported Maldives.
India’s prompt response to the water crisis in Male in December 2014 also further strengthened ties.
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