MDP condemns remarks by senior BJP official, says President’s actions provided opportunity

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has condemned the remarks by a senior member of India’s ruling party BJP, Subramanian Swamy, raising the question of sending Indian armed forces to replace President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration.

Swamy, who has also served as a member of the parliament of India, in a post on X on Sunday, remarked that President Muizzu had instructed India to withdraw its military personnel from Maldives by March 15^th following his visit to China.

In his post, he raised the question as to whether Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will “tuck his tail” or send the Indian army, air force and navy to replace Muizzu.

MDP, in a statement condemning the remarks, described making such statements to instill hatred between the people of Maldives and India as “irresponsible, reckless and immature”.

The party also called on Swamy to refrain from settling domestic political scores by leveraging the Maldives.

“We do not believe that this kind of narrative deserves further consideration. It should be dealt with the disdain it merits,” the statement read.

It was also underscored in the statement that Maldives-India relationship has thrived since time immemorial, based on mutual respect and people-to-people relations.

MDP, in their statement, also accused recent comments by President Muizzu and his officials of constraining the old friendship between the Maldives and India and providing the opportunity for unsavory characters to further tarnish the situation.

Speaking to press on Saturday, after he returned to the Maldives after a five-day state visit to China, President Muizzu indirectly attacked India.

Without naming any country, he said, "We may be small, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us.”

He said that no country has the right to exert influence over the domestic affairs of a country, regardless of its size.