Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Rajeev Shahare has been summoned by the Foreign Ministry here, amid deepening political crisis after the Supreme Court ordered postponement of the presidential run-off.
“We had a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner last night, but we cannot reveal details of the meeting,” a Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying by the Sun.Mv online.
The Ministry called on all foreign parties to refrain from interfering with internal matters of the country.On Friday, Shahare met with Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek, local media reported, without elaborating. It is believed that Shahare was summoned by the ministry to protest his meeting with Thowfeek.
This was the second time an Indian High Commissioner has been summoned by the Foreign Ministry.In February, the then High Commissioner DM Mulay was summoned after former president and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed sought refuge inside the compound of the Indian High Commission in Male to evade arrest following his failure to show up in court for his trial over the detention of a judge.
The Ministry’s communications director Ibrahim Muaz had earlier had slammed India’s alleged interference in the dispute surrounding the run-off, the daily Haveeru reported.
The apex court had issued an injunction delaying the run off until it rules on the case filed by Jumhoory Party seeking annulment of the first round results alleging vote rigging. Although the hearings on the case had ended, the Supreme Court is yet to issue a ruling.
However, elections commissioner Thowfeek on Thursday evening had announced that the run-off will be held on September 28 despite the injunction.
But after the Court ordered the security forces to stop anyone trying
to violate the injunction, the commission had said it had halted
all preparations for the second round.
The Supreme Court orders came within hours of Majlis, Maldivian
Parliament, passed a resolution in which it called upon all the state
institutions to ensure that the second round takes place as scheduled
on Saturday.
India and other international agencies including the UN have appealed
to all parties to respect the will of people expressed through results.
India has asked all sides to respect the verdict and aspirations
of the people of Maldives.
The political scene in Maldives has been in a state of flux since
February 2012 when Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected
President, was forced to resign in duress. He was succeeded by Vice-President
Mohammed Waheed.