Solih questions govt as it sheds past objections and courts closer India ties

Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih criticized the incumbent People’s National Congress (PNC) administration on Saturday, questioning why it decided to proceed with the same agreements with India that it once portrayed as a national security threat during its 2023 presidential campaign.

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu made a state visit to India last week. During the visit, he expressed support for several Maldives-India initiatives incepted during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration - initiatives that his party had strongly opposed in the past.

This includes the project to develop a harbor and dockyard at the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) military base, the project to expand the Hanimaadhoo airport, and plans to open an Indian consulate in the southern Maldivian city of Addu.

Solih criticized this as he attended MDP’s ‘Laamarukazee Gulhun’ conference in Kulhudhuffushi City on Saturday.

He said that it shows that the promises and the claims President Muizzu made during his presidential campaign were baseless.

“What did they not say about our neighboring countries? About the leaders of these countries? What filth did they not spread? The damage they caused this country and its people with this is incalculable,” he said.

Solih said that when his administration attempted to develop Hanimaadhoo, top PNC officials claimed there were armed Indian soldiers operating in the island.

“But they went there recently to claim the new runway built there? But what were they saying back then? They said we were attempting to build an Indian settlement there. But its like they never said any of that. There suddenly aren’t any of those supposed armed soldiers there now,” he said.

Solih said that the government was continuing with the project without a change to “so much as a letter” of the agreement signed during his administration.

He then talked about the UTF agreement.

Solih said that the project was initiated by his administration with the support of the Indian because of an urgent need to enhance the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF)’s operational capabilities.

But at the time, PNC officials accused it of being an attempt to build a de facto Indian naval base in the Maldives and led protests against the deal.

Solih noted that PNC officials had also objected to plans to build an Indian consulate in Addu, describing it as a listening post for the Indian foreign intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

“But what did they say? They said we were building an Indian military base there. But today, they are proceeding with this same agreement to the very letter. What happened to those deceptions they spoke of?” he said.

“And what did they say when we attempted to build an Indian consulate in Addu City? They said it was an attempt to build an Indian intelligence center and build another Indian settlement there. What happened now? They are proceeding as agreed.”

Solih said the PNC administration must also take responsibility for the sharp decline in tourist arrivals from India – which had been the top source market for visitors up until the end of last year.

He said that the Maldives has seen a 40 percent decline in arrivals from India.

“This has resulted in a MVR 3.2 billion loss to the state. Who will take responsibility for this? We are constantly talking about a lack of funds. But this is the magnitude of the damage we have suffered these last nine months,” he said.

Solih accused the PNC of spreading fear over a possible loss of independence, sovereignty and the country’s Islamic faith as tools to deceive the public and win the 2023 presidential election.

He said that the people are beginning to realize it had all been lies.

President Muizzu’s PNC had run its 2023 presidential elections campaign on an ‘India Out’ platform, alleging that the MDP administration had signed secretive agreements with India that threatened Maldives’ security and sovereignty.

Relations between Male’ and New Delhi had been strained in the early days of President Muizzu’s presidency after he demanded that India withdraw its troops from Maldives – executing a pledge he made during his presidential campaign. Things escalated further after three Maldivian deputy ministers made disparaging remarks regarding India and Indian Prime Minister Modi following a social media post promoting India’s Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

The Maldives Foreign Ministry was quick to distance itself from the remarks, saying that they do not represent the views of the Male’ government. The three junior ministers were suspended, and two of them – Mariyam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef resigned last month ahead of the current state visit.

But despite the earlier turmoil, officials from both Male’ and Delhi repeatedly expressed keenness to maintaining relations and engaged in several high-level visits between the two countries.