The Foreign Minister of India, an emerging superpower of the world, S. Jaishankar, has been camping in a country for three days. This country is in India’s neighbourhood. For the past 10 months, this country was flying under the influence of China. Its President felt that he would dominate the world at the behest of China. But, in a few months, he came to his senses. This country is spread over only 298 square km in area. Our Ghaziabad has an area more than double this. The population here is only five lakhs. But, on the strength of China, it was challenging India. But, in the past six months, the situation here has worsened. Only then did he come to his senses.
Actually, we are talking about Maldives. In November last year, the government of President Mohammad Muizzu was formed in this country. He had said a lot of bad things about India during the elections. Then when he won, on the very first day of assuming power, he tried to show his eyes to India. Then what happened. Within a few months, he understood the cost of messing with India. A huge economic crisis arose there. After that he understood the truth. Then he started pleading to India from within. Muizzu attended the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi in the month of June. After this, Jaishankar is on a three-day official visit to Maldives to strengthen bilateral relations. This is the first high-level visit from New Delhi after the pro-China President Mohammad Muizzu of the island nation took office nine months ago.
Loved ones gave advice to Muizzu
Maldives’ main opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) welcomed the sudden change in India policy by the government led by President Mohammad Muizzu and said that Male has always been confident that whenever the country faces a crisis and calls for help, New Delhi will be the first to help. MDP President Abdullah Shahid said this after meeting India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar here on Saturday. The MDP President said that his party demands that the Muizzu government should publicly apologize for the actions, lies and irresponsible statements of its officials, due to which Maldives has suffered a lot on the foreign and economic front.
Muizzu government is busy praising India
Former Foreign Minister Shahid posted on X late Saturday night and said that I was very happy to welcome and meet Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar in Maldives along with my colleagues from the MDP Secretariat. He said that Maldives has always been confident that whenever Maldives dials international 911, the first country to help will be India.
He said, ‘Due to the aggressive slogans raised against India, mockery and inciting anti-India sentiments by the current government, Maldives’ international reputation has been severely damaged, economic loss has been caused and many other unnecessary difficulties and challenges have been faced.’
Muizzu government was forced to change
Shahid said that now when there has been a sudden change in the Maldives-India policy of President Muizzu’s government, MDP welcomes it. Relations between India and Maldives became tense last year after Muizzu, who is known for his inclination towards China, took over as President. Within a few hours of taking oath of office, Muizzu had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country.
President Muizzu on Saturday described India as “one of the closest allies” and expressed his government’s full commitment to strengthen the historic and close ties between the two countries. Shahid said, “The MDP hopes that this change will not be temporary or superficial, but will be in the best interest of the people of the Maldives.”
Maldives, S Jaishankar
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 11, 2024, 18:41 IST
