As Akbar visits Maldives, India stays guarded in praising Yameen’s leadership

WITH OPPOSITION leaders in Maldives trying to close ranks before next year’s election in the country,indiaseemedtobekeeping its options open by being guarded in its praise of President Abdullayameenleadership.even aspresidentyameenreiteratedhis government’s “India First” policy inameetingwithvisitingminister of State M J Akbar on Wednesday, India and Maldives were not on the same page when it came to describingyameen’sleadershipin their official statements.

The Maldives president’s office, in a statement, said that the Minister of State “praised the Presidentforhisleadership,which he asserted is synonymous with peace, stability, and development within the Maldives, and in particular delivering for the development needs of the people.”

But, the Ministry of External Affairs’statementdidnotmention suchremarksbytheministerduring the meeting.

Delhi’s careful positioning comes as opposition leaders and former Presidents Mohamed Nasheed and his rival-turnedfriend Abdul Gayoom are working to build united opposition to Yameen. The elections in Maldives are due next year. Interestingly, Maldivesistheonlycountryinthe neighbourhood, which has not been visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi so far.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, President Yameen conveyed his appreciation for the consistent support of India and reiterated the high priorityattachedbyhisgovernment to India in keeping with their “India First” policy.

“Theministerconveyedprime Minister Modi’s personal greetings to the President of Maldives and reiterated India’s support for astable,democratic,peacefuland prosperousmaldivesfulfillingthe aspirations of its citizens,” the MEA statement said.

The Maldives statement said, that Akbar “stated India is fully committed to support the Maldives in maintaining the development cooperation between the two countries, and expressed the sincere wishes of the Governmentofindiatoseetheaspirations of the Maldivians for a stable, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Maldives consolidatedinthenearfuture,”itadded.