‘We cannot wait and watch’: MDP stages protest alleging infringement of constitutional rights

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) took to the streets again on Wednesday, protesting against the government’s alleged infringement of multiple constitutional rights.

MDP has accused President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of infringing on constitutional rights in an attempt to establish autocratic rule.

MDP loyalists gathered near the Parliament on Wednesday morning for a protest titled “Destruction of Democracy’. Grassroots members of the party were joined by the party’s lawmakers in the protest.

Speaking to reporters, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir accused the People’s National Congress (PNC) administration of failing to explain how it is spending the state budget which, with the MVR 5.1 billion supplementary budget passed on Tuesday, has now risen to MVR 55 billion.

He described it as “a great injustice to the people.”

“This is a far more dangerous situation than one where the people can just wait and watch from their homes,” he said.

“The Maldivian people should not just stand by in face of such great injustice.”

Mauroof said the people must join the MDP and take to the streets in protest in order to hold the government accountable and put it on the right track.

He said the people must show their power.

Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi alleged that the government has been constricting and denying multiple constitutional rights.

He said that the people should not stand by while the government commits such “autocratic” acts.

He, too, urged more people to join the protest.

“We must not wait and watch while Maldivian citizens are denied their rights,” he said.

Wednesday’s protest follows one on October 21, when the MDP took to the streets in protest over the delay in handover of land and flats awarded during their administration.

Earlier on Wednesday, an emergency motion submitted by a MDP lawmaker expressing concern over the use of government officials to draw the lots in the new draw for land awarded from Gulhifalhu was rejected by the Parliament, in which the PNC holds a supermajority.