PM MAY HEAD TO MALDIVES FIRST

■ 1st visit in second term to be to old ally in Indian Ocean

In what is expected to be his first overseas visit in his second tenure as PM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Maldives towards the end of the first week of June. The choice of Maldives — India’s tiny south-western maritime neighbour — is significant as it was, till last year, perceived to be totally under Chinese influence.

According to news agency reports, the Maldivian media has reported that the visit could take place on June 78. Sources said the likely visit would be part of India’s neighbourhoodfirst policy and that the tiny archipelago nation is strategically important for India.

Under Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, India and the Maldives are now the closest of friends once again. PM Modi had on November 17 last year attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Solih.

The Maldivian President has strengthened ties with New Delhi and reversed the widely perceived slant towards Beijing that the Maldives had adopted during the controversial tenure of his predecessor Abdullah Yameen.

President Solih’s assuming of office following his victory in the Presidential polls against then president Abdulla Yameen last year had come as a huge relief for New Delhi.

Mr. Yameen was openly pro-China and had become a thorn in New Delhi’s flesh, with Indo-Maldivian ties having nose-dived during Mr. Yameen’s tenure.

India had earlier decided to give immediate assistance of US$ 25 million to the Maldives to ensure budgetary stability of its tiny maritime south-western neighbour. The MEA on Sunday said former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed called up and congratulated Mr Modi on Sunday.

— PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes blessings from his mother Hiraben Modi at her house in Gandhinagar on Sunday. This is the first time he is meeting his mother after the elections results.