Nasheed: No support for ‘India Out’ campaign, Yameen has to stop it

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that there is no support for the ‘India Out’ campaign which is spearheaded opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom – adding that Yameen has to stop it.

In a video interview given to Sri Lankan news outlet, Nasheed said that India is the country which is the most compatible with Maldives in all aspects – particularly highlighting proximity, being countries situated in the Indian Ocean, cultural affiliations and historical ties. Therefore, he said that India is the country that could play the biggest role in the Maldives.

He also stressed that the ‘India First Policy’ will remain as the Maldivian foreign policy.

In response to a question posed regarding the opposition coalition’s ‘India Out’ campaign, Nasheed said that he believes there is little support to it. He added that he believes there will not be any popular support amongst the Maldivian people for a movement against India, or any other country.

“I think it is very misguided. President Yameen must stop it,” he added.

Speaker further, Nasheed stressed that in the future as well, the biggest role by a foreign country in the Maldives will be played by India – adding that he does not see China playing that role.