Indian Military Presence Poses No Threat To Maldivian National Sovereignty: Mariya Didi

Minister of Defence, Mariya Didi, has said that none of the Indian soldiers present on Maldivian soil “carry weapons”, and their presence posed no risk to national sovereignty.

In an appearance on RaajjeTV; a private cable television channel, funded by the ruling MDP, with a history of broadcasting content defending the India’s intrusive policies in the Maldives; the Minister said that the opposition “were crying about sovereignty” while they themselves were free to do so. The Minister said that she did not see the toppling of Maldivian sovereignty by India’s influence.

On prior occasions, the Minister has made comments that had characterised the Indian military presence in the Maldives in a positive light. She said that the Indian military were training the Maldivian defence forces to help the nation protect itself from foreign influence.

Minister Mariya had dismissed the grassroots “India-Out” campaign as one that was “funded by a specific party”.

Prior to her appointment to her current position, Minister Mariya Didi had described the servicepeople of the Maldivian Defence Force as cowards.