MP Shareef: Maldives cannot survive without assistance from India

MP for Maradhoo Constituency Ibrahim Shareef on Wednesday stated that assistance from larger nations like India was needed in order to protect the independence of Maldives.

He made these remarks while debating on the emergency motion submitted by Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir to stop the opposition coalition’s large-scale ‘India Out’ event planned for Friday.

 MP Shareef went on to noted that India and Maldives were connected in more than one way.

“We are at some point people who migrated mainly from India and Sri Lanka. We need to accept this truth.”

Additionally, Shareef said that just as small disagreements will occur within a family, small issues occur between Maldives and India.

“Any time Maldives faced a crisis, India is always ready to extend a hand in assistance. The assistance of Indian people and government are received for different projects in Maldives. China is also such a nation.”

He also expressed concern over Maldivians disrespectfully commenting on the issues between China and India and said that Maldives needs to maintain relations with all superpowers.

He reiterated that maintaining relations with such countries was essential for the independence of Maldives.

“All members of this parliament will agree that without the help from these nations [Maldives], cannot survive.”

While submitting this motion, MP Jabir said that ‘India Out’ campaign was a political turmoil spread for the upcoming presidential elections.

Members from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – who often vocalize their opposition to the campaign – supported the emergency motion, and noted the importance of India to Maldives.

While the opposition coalition comprising of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People National Congress (PNC) are gearing up for the event on Friday, which will have supporters coming from atolls, Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has said that the event will be stopped.

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.

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.