Maldives president Abdulla Yameen sacks defence minister Mohamed Nazim, political crisis looms

NEW DELHI: Political crisis returned to Maldives after President Abdulla Yameen sacked defence minister Mohamed Nazim and removed the nation's Chief Justice. Opposition leader Mohammad Nasheed, who launched a movement against the government with Gasim Ibrahim, a former partner of the ruling coalition, has reportedly sought asylum in India too. The developments come ahead of PM Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Male next month.

Former Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and daughter Dunya Maumoon, the country's foreign minister, undertook quiet trips to Delhi recently to appraise India of the political developments in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The minister met her counterpart Sushma Swaraj on Sunday to provide an update on the evolving situation in Male. Former President Nasheed had taken refuge in the Indian High Commission in Male before the 2013 presidential polls. Nasheed's camp has alleged there is an attempt to bar him from contesting polls in future. The Opposition has alleged that Yameen has imposed an autocratic rule in the islands.

An aide of Nasheed told ET from Male that the former president was facing arrest and prefers India to intervene to prevent situation from deteriorating. "He will take a call on formally seeking asylum in India as the situation evolves," the aide said. However, an official of the Maldivian government told ET from Male that the court has diluted charges against Nasheed and his arrest may not be imminent.

New Delhi is, nevertheless, worried about the developments in Male. The country holds significance given its geographical location in the Indian Ocean Region, especially after it attracted attention of China which wants to expand presence in India's periphery. Officials admitted that India is closely monitoring the pro-Chinese tilt of President Yameen. Chinese President Xi Jinping had visited Male ahead of India last September and pledged support for expanding the airport project in the capital among various other projects. Maldives has been declared as one of the stops in China's maritime silk-route strategy.