India ‘dismayed’ by 30-day extension

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday said it was “deeply dismayed” over the extension of emergency in the Maldives, adding that the manner in which the 30-day increase was approved by Parliament — in contravention of the Constitution — was a “matter of concern”.

The previous day, 38 MPs loyal to President Abdulla Yameen rammed the extension through Parliament after Speaker Abdulla Maseeh set aside the constitutionally mandated quorum. The move came hours after India urged its Indian Ocean neighbour to quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law.

“We are deeply dismayed that the government of Maldives has extended the state of emergency for a further 30 days. The manner in which the extension of the state of emergency was approved by the Majlis (Parliament) in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the consequent delay in the resumption of the political process and the continuing suspension of the functioning of democratic institutions, including the judiciary, is likely to further delay restoration of normalcy in Maldives.

The statement said that it was important to ensure that all democratic institutions are allowed to function in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution.

The extension will strengthen the powers of Yameen, who imposed emergency after clashing with the top court when it quashed the conviction of nine opposition leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed who is in exile, and ordered the reinstatement of 12 disqualified MPs.