Home Minister Imran: Will stop ‘India Out’ gathering planned for Friday

Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla on Monday said that the opposition coalition’s big event planned for Friday as part of their ‘India Out’ campaign will be stopped.

The opposition has been campaigning against the presence of Indian military in Maldives, and has been conducting various events across the country as part of this.

A large-scale event prior to Ramadhan was announced by the coalition comprising of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People National Congress (PNC). The event is scheduled for Friday, March 25, and supporters from the atolls are to be brought to Male' for it.

Minister Imran was summoned to the Parliament, and when the opportunity was granted to pose questions to him, MP for Medhu Henveiru constituency Ali Azim asked why ‘India Out’ campaign activities were not stopped.

In response, Imran said that they have spoken to those planning the event for Friday, and have informed that conducting such an activity illegally would not be allowed.

The minister made no further remarks on the issue.

In contrast, the spokesperson for the opposition coalition Heena Waleed revealed to Sun that, so far, they have not had any communication with any authority regarding Friday’s event.

She further stated that they were never informed that the event could not be held.

“That is an outright lie. [They] did not speak to us.”

‘India Out’ campaign spearheaded by the opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has been expanded across the country, with supporters plastering walls of their houses with messages pertaining to the campaign.

They claim that Indian military personnel being stationed in the Maldives is a threat to the country’s national security. They also claim it to be a concern of many Maldivian citizens.

Meanwhile, the government, MDP and other political parties which belong to the government coalition strongly condemn the campaign. In this regard, the government, on multiple instances, have stressed that such a campaign would disrupt the close ties maintained with a neighbouring country.