India Sent Three Letters Regarding February 1 SC Verdict And Had Refused To Meet With Maldivian Ambassador: Yameen

The leader of the opposition, former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom said that the Indian Ministry for External Affairs had sent the Maldives 3 letters to implement the Supreme Court verdict that had been issued on February 1, 2018. The verdict had ruled that several political prisoners, who had been either incarcerated or in self-exile at the time, be freed immediately.

Speaking at the opposition "Kotharukoshi" (i.e. "Pigeon-Cage") rally held at the Carnival area in Male City tonight, he had said that New Delhi had sent 3 letters regarding the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict of February 1, 2018. He said that all three letters had been signed by the then-Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj.

In the letters, India had questioned the Maldives regarding the delay in the implementation of the verdict. He said that he had sent several ministers as ambassadors to neighbouring countries. He said that all neighbouring countries but India had welcomed his ambassadors. He said that he had sent his Foreign Minister, Dr Mohamed Asim, to India, and nobody had granted him an appointment.

The former President said that he had provided a diplomatic answer to the first letter, and that he had felt "difficulty" in answering the second letter. However, he said that he had refused to answer the third letter.