Got no request from ex-Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed for asylum in India, says government

NEW DELHI: The government today said it had not received any request for asylum from former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed before his arrest in February.

"Government had not received any request from former (Maldives) President Nasheed for asylum in India prior to his arrest," Minister of State for External Affairs, VK Singh, told Rajya Sabha.

He was replying to a question on whether the media reports that Nasheed had sought asylum in India before the arrest were correct.

Nasheed was arrested on February 22 under anti-terrorism laws for allegedly ordering the arrest a senior judge in 2012. Last month, he was sentenced to 13 years in jail.

"While expressing concern at recent developments in the Maldives, including the arrest and manhandling of former President Nasheed, government had urged all concerned in the Maldives to calm the situation down and resolve their differences within the Constitutional and legal framework of Maldives.

"Government also reiterated its commitment to supporting the people and the government of Maldives in their quest for peace, development, prosperity and democracy," Singh said.