Friday
19th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Opposition Coalition’s interim leader Progressive Congress Party’s leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla. Photo: TMJ
The President of the People's National Congress, Abdur-Raheem , has placed the majority of the blame on former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and the Honourable Qasim Ibrahim, leader of the Jumhooree Party, for the "hurt, pain, and sadness" into which the Maldives has fallen.
Speaking on Channel 13, PNC President alleged that the people were "barely aware" that the MDP existed at all in the early part of the Yameen administration. He said that the majority of the Maldivian people stood behind President Yameen. He said that the people wanted the development brought by President Yameen and the nation was peaceful.
Abdul Raheem claimed that while the nation was peaceful in this way, it was former President Yameen and the Hon. Qasim Ibrahim who "watered and revived" the MDP.
He said that the blame of the Maldives' diminishing independence and sovereignty lies not only on the heads of President Solih and Speaker Nasheed, but the responsibility for the loss of justice and the decline of the economy will lie chiefly with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and Qasim Ibrahim.
He alleged that the government had "sold off" the country to India and that India was watchful for opportunities to dominate the Maldives. Abdul Raheem also alleged that the 2018 election had been "stolen" by the MDP, and the theft had been aided by India.
He further stated that three years into the Solih administration, none of the progress desired by the people had become reality.
He said that the only political leader who had the courage to stand up in defence of Maldivian freedom and thought about the state of the nation was former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.