India’s public statements regarding the suspension of democracy in the Maldives have ignored facts and ground realities, the government of President Abdulla Yameen said on Thursday.
The statement, which came a day after India’s sharp comments against the extension of emergency rule in the country, urged cooperation from the international community.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
“..the public statements issued by the Government of India.. ignore the facts and ground realities with regard to the ongoing political developments in the Maldives. The assertion by India that the extension of the state of Emergency by the People’s Majlis was unconstitutional is a clear distortion of facts which ignore the Constitution and Laws of the Maldives,” stated a press release from Male.
The Government of Maldives said the declaration of Emergency was backed by Article 253 of the Constitution, which empowers the President of the nation to protect national security with suspension of democracy.
“The Supreme Court had cleared the validity of the Emergency in its ruling on 21 February, 2018,” said the statement.
ADVERTISEMENT
The exchange comes days after former President Mohammed Nasheed called upon India to intervene to restore democracy. Mr. Nasheed visited India last week to participate in a conversation on foreign affairs in ‘The Huddle’, a forum on contemporary issues organised by The Hindu .