Upcoming election the only chance to keep Maldives with its people: Pres. Yameen

The former President, Opposition Leader, and presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom claimed that the upcoming presidential election of 2023 will be the last chance to keep the Maldives with its people, independent and free.

Speaking at an event held in HA. Kelaa, as part of his campaign trip to Haa Alif Atoll, President Yameen said that the leaders of the government will make many unattainable promises, in addition to excuses as to why their previous vows remain unfulfilled.

President Yameen said that even the coalition leaders will come to the people and push these same dreams as well.

However, President Yameen said that we must not allow outsiders the opportunity to force their hands on this land and therefore the 2023 presidential election is the only chance for Maldivians to save the country from them. He said that while he was speaking in Kelaa, Hanimaadhoo was not too far and therefore Indian military base is not far away either.

President Yameen said that his words cannot be new to the ears of Kelaa, Vashafaru, Filladhoo and Hanimaadhoo residents.

In response to the coalition party members’ claims of not having Indian military activity in the Maldives, President Yameen said that political leaders may not see the Indian Army operating on Maldivian grounds but they were speaking about it because they know it's true. President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom had said that he had seen no evidence of Indian military activity in Maldives.

President Yameen said that he has seen the agreements made between India and Maldives, however, the government had failed to comment on them and have still continued to lie. He said that the opposition is not hesitant to debate the issue with all army generals on live television should they like to prove it to be false.

President Yameen said that the administration was incapable of doing any such thing because they had secrets to hide. He expressed disappointment towards the politicians who continue to shrug the agreements between Indian and Maldives off as an inconsequential issue, despite the state the country is spiraling into.