Current internal issues should be resolved by the people of the Maldives: India

An Indian newspaper has said that India holds the view that the internal development of events in the Maldives following the change of the government should be resolved by the people of the Maldives.

Indian paper The Hindu yesterday reported that Special Envoy Secretary (West), MEA, M. Ganapathi has met the “widest possible cross section of stake holders in Maldives in view of the recent developments”. Ganapathi said that the “entire leadership across the board agreed that there should be no violence.”

The article says, “India still holds the view that this is an internal development in the Maldives which should be resolved peacefully and democratically by the people of Maldives and within the framework of the Constitution.”

It quoted Ganapathi saying, “There is no countenancing any intervention at all.”

Also, when asked if India lost out by not supporting Nasheed, he said, “This is not a cricket match. This is a serious issue where – I don’t think we look at the point of view as you make out in your question. But I think we remain to be continuously engaged with President Nasheed and his team. We have had discussions over the last two days. As I mentioned, The High Commissioner here has been talking to everyone there and this engagement has been appreciated in my meetings also with Nasheed and the other political leaders, including President Waheed.”

When asked if what happened on 7 February in the Maldives was a coup, Ganapathi said, “I think we will go by the political leadership’s decision.”