The advice to Muijju about the opposition to India is from the former president of Maldives

March 26, 2024 11:36 am

Md Lotfar Rahman Azad, Senior Reporter:

Maldives President Mohammad Muijju has repeatedly made headlines for his anti-India remarks. Relations between Malaysia and New Delhi have been cooling ever since the country’s president was elected.

However, this time Muijju has been urged to stop stubbornness against India by the former president of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohammad Solih. He also called for dialogue with the neighbors to overcome the country’s economic challenges.

Mohamed Solih spoke at a rally held in the capital Male in support of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidates contesting four parliamentary seats in the country’s Mafannu.

There he said that he saw in the media reports that Muijju wants to negotiate with India for debt restructuring. A local media quoted Mohammad Solih as saying that the economic challenges in the Maldives were not caused by India’s debt.

He said that Maldives owes 18 billion Maldivian rupees to China. On the other hand, India has a debt of Rs. 800 crores. This amount is to be repaid within 25 years.

Mohammad Solih also said, I have confidence that the neighbors will help us. We must stop being obstinate and engage in dialogue. There are many parties to help us. But he (Muijju) does not want compromise. I think they (government) are just starting to realize the situation.

Mohammad Muijju was elected President of Maldives in September last year with the slogan ‘India Out’. He then called for the withdrawal of the Indian army to implement the election promises.

Apart from this, some senior Maldivian government officials made ‘derogatory comments’ about the Indian Prime Minister during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Laksha Island at the beginning of this year. The geo-political relations between the two countries started to deteriorate.

Mohammad Muijju is staunchly pro-China. On the other hand, Mohammad Solih is pro-Indian. Mohammad Muijju (45) defeated Mohammad Soli (62) in the presidential election held last September.