Over MVR 1M incurred for President’s India trip to attend Modi’s inauguration

The President’s Office, on Tuesday, revealed over MVR 1 million was utilized from the state budget to cover the costs of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to India to attend the inauguration ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term.

The trip was undertaken from June 9^th to June 11^th.

The President’s Office, on Tuesday, said a total of 20 people traveled alongside President Muizzu as part of his delegation and support staff. They had traveled to India via Dubai and Sri Lanka.

A total of MVR 1,440,170.33 was incurred from the state budget to cover their traveling expenses.

Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to President Muizzu to attend his inauguration under India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.

The President’s Office cited discussions on further enhancing the historical ties between India and Maldives as the most important goal achieved during this trip.

It also came amid heightened tensions between Male’ and New Delhi which first arose in light of the ‘India Out’ campaign led by then-opposition, which includes senior officials in the current administration, calling for the removal of Indian military personnel based in the Maldives.

The relations soured further after three deputy ministers in the current administration made disparaging social media comments about Prime Minister Modi and India. The tensions, however, had dissipated to an extent following Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer's May visit to India. 

During President Muizzu’s visit, he met with Prime Minister Modi, his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar