Several local journalists have departed to India on a trip bankrolled by the Indian High Commission in the Maldives.
The 20 journalists were all from media houses that regularly defend Indian actions in the Maldives. The only journalist in the pool who had covered opposition-led “India Out” protests and generally critical of Indian hegemony in the country was Avas news’ Ahmed Hameed.
The rest of the pool was comprised of journalists from media houses that promote a very sanitized version of the administration.
The only media houses that had refused to take part are Vaguthu and Dhiyares media.
There is a lot of speculation that Indian High Commission had financed several of these media houses in exchange for favorable press.