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Tag: Mohammed Muizzu

  • 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’ India-Hater President Is ‘Corrupt’ To The Core! May Be Impeached Soon world news

    Known for his hate for India and pro-China stance, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has landed into another controversy ahead of the Parliamentary polls in the island nation. A leaked report claimed involvement of Muizzu in corruption in 2018, a charge dismissed by him. Now, the opposition parties have demanded a probe and impeachment of the President. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and People’s National Front (PNF) demanded an investigation into the matter.

    According to local media reports, the political controversy began on Monday when an anonymous account, ‘Hassan Kurusee,’ shared leaked intelligence reports on social media. These reports purportedly included documents from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Maldives Monetary Authority and the Maldives Police Service, which allegedly implicated President Muizzu in corruption.

    The Majlis elections are scheduled for Sunday, and the atmosphere has been tainted by accusations traded between the primary opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC).

    “These reports, dated circa 2018, claim irregularities in money transfers to President Muizzu’s personal bank account, highlighting 10 critical red flag indicators of financial misconduct. These indicators suggest involvement with politically exposed persons, embezzlement, structured transactions, and the use of corporate entities to hide fund origins,” news portal Maldives Republic (mvrepublic.Com) reported.

    After leaked intelligence reports surfaced, former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed called for Muizzu’s impeachment. Jameel took to his social media platform He also accused President Muizzu of extensive corruption in his flagship Ras Male’ development project and alleged excessive spending on public relations.

    A total of 368 candidates are contesting for 93 seats in this year’s parliamentary elections on April 21, according to media reports. The outcome of the elections will determine whether the opposition parties can act against President Muizzu, who assumed charge in November last year. (With PTI inputs)

  • Maldivian President Muizzu’s Ex-Minister Mariyam Shiuna Mocks India Once Again; Apologies After Backlash | world news

    Days after India allowed the export of certain essential commodities to Maldives at the request of the island nation, its former minister once again mocked New Delhi while targeting the opposition MDP. Mariyam Shiuna belongs to the People’s National Congress, the party of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. Shiuna grabbed the limelight when she joined fellow ministers in mocking India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted Lakshadweep as a tourist destination. While Shiuna along with two fellow ministers was suspended from the Muizzu’s cabinet, her hate for India is yet to end as she mocked New Delhi once again. Her recent

    Latest Controversy: Insulting Indian Flag

    Mariyam Shiuna, the former Maldivian minister, in a recent post which has been deleted after backlash, mocked the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and India by posting an altered picture of Ashok Chakra, a part of the Indian tricolour. When Indian as wells as Maldivian social media users reacted sharply to the photo, Shiuna deleted the post and issued a clarification.

    Mariyam Shiuna’s Clarification

    After deleting the post, Shiuna said that she was unaware of the photo’s resemblance to the Indian flag and she would be careful in future. “I would like to address a recent social media post of mine that has garnered attention and criticism. I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post. It was brought to my attention that the image used in my response to the Maldivian opposition party MDP bore a resemblance to the Indian flag. I want to make it clear that this was entirely unintentional, and I sincerely regret any misunderstanding it may have caused,” said Shiuna.

    I would like to address a recent social media post of mine that has garnered attention and criticism. I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post.

    It was brought to my attention that the image used in my response to the… — Mariyam Shiuna (@shiuna_m) April 8, 2024

    The former minister also said that Maldives deeply values ​​its relationship and, the mutual respect it shares with India. “In future, I will be more vigilant in verifying the content I share to prevent such oversights,” she added.

    However, Shiuna’s Shiuna appears to have deliberately posted the photo to insult India and the MDP which favors friendly relations with New Delhi.

    Who Is Mariyam Shiuna?

    Mariyam Shuuna has served as a former minister in the Maldivian government. She worked as the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Information, and Arts in the Maldives. Shuuna is also a spokesperson for the Male City Council. She sparked controversy when she made disrespectful remarks regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent trip to Lakshadweep. After facing heavy backlash, she later deleted her post. The Maldivian government distanced itself from Shuuna’s statement at that time.

    Maldives-India Relation

    Maldives’ relations with India have become strained under the current leadership of President Muizzu who holds a pro-China view. Muizzu came to power riding on the ‘India Out’ campaign and has taken several steps in the last six months that have an anti-India tinge. It includes the ousting of 80 Indian soldiers posted in Male and allowing an alleged Chinese spy vessel to explore the Indian Ocean region.

  • '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.

  • Indian Civilian Team Reaches Maldives To Replace Soldiers Manning 3 Aviation Platforms | world news

    New Delhi: As the clock ticks towards the March 10 deadline for India to pull out its military personnel from the Maldives, a team of Indian civilians has landed in the island nation to take over one of the three aviation platforms that India operates there, news agency PTI reported citing local media reports on Wednesday. The Maldives Defense Ministry said in a statement, quoted by a news portal themaldivesjournal.com, that the civilian team arrived in Addu last night to complete the handover/takeover process. “The civilian team will operate and maintain the aircraft,” the statement said.

    This follows a high-level meeting in Delhi on February 2, where the Maldivian foreign ministry said that India agreed to replace its military personnel with civilians by May 10, and that the first phase of the process would be done by March 10.

    News agency PTI citing sources said that the Indian military personnel, who are expected to be replaced by civilians with expertise in operating the three platforms, are currently manning the three Indian platforms that have been offering humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the Maldivian people for the past few years using two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft.

    The move comes shortly after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who is widely perceived as a pro-China leader, declared in his first speech to Parliament on February 5 that the first batch of Indian military personnel will leave the island nation before March 10. He said that the rest of the Indians operating the two aviation platforms will depart by May 10 as per the agreement between the two countries.

    The news portal also reported on Wednesday that test flights will be conducted today (Wednesday) before the helicopter is sent to India for repairs. An Indian ship will arrive in Addu on February 28 carrying the replacement helicopter.

    The Defense Ministry statement further said that the Indian troops will leave the Maldives on the agreed dates.

    Muizzu, who became the President on November 17, formally asked India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying that the Maldivian people gave him a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi.

    After the latest round of bilateral talks, India said on February 2 that it reached a “set of mutually workable solutions” with the Maldives to continue the operations of Indian aviation platforms in the island nation.

    The Maldives, which is located at the center of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), has a significant strategic value due to its closeness to India, which is only 70 nautical miles away from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles away from the mainland’s western coast.

    The Maldives has been a vital maritime neighbor of India in the IOR and it holds a special position in its initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighborhood First Policy.