New Delhi, February 13
New Delhi was in a fix today as former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed sought refuge at the Indian High Commission in Male after a Maldivian court issued arrest warrants against him.

India is certainly not comfortable with the situation in the Indian Ocean archipelago as it does not want to be seen to be taking sides in the ongoing power struggle between the ousted President and his successor Mohamed Waheed in the run-up to the Presidential elections to be held in September.

After carefully examining the developments, the External Affairs Ministry issued a statement this evening confirmed that Nasheed was at the Indian mission and has sought New Delhi’s assistance. “We are in touch with the relevant Maldivian authorities to resolve the situation.”

Noting that Nasheed himself was a candidate in the Presidential polls, New Delhi said it was necessary that the Presidential nominees of recognised political parties be free to participate in the electoral exercise without any hindrance. “Prevention of participation by political leaders in the contest would call into question the integrity of the electoral process, thereby perpetuating the current political instability in the Maldives.”

The MEA said the instability would not be in the interest of the Maldives or the region and called upon the Maldivian Government and all political parties in that country to avoid any action that would vitiate the political atmosphere there.

Incidentally, these developments came on a day when an Indian Naval ship ‘Kalpeni’ arrived in the Maldives for a five-day joint exercise with the Maldivian coast guard.

The arrest warrant was issued against Nasheed after he failed to turn up in the court on Monday in connection with the alleged illegal detention of Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012. It is learnt that Nasheed had sought India’s help immediately after the arrest warrant was issued.

Confirming that he was inside the Indian mission, Nasheed later tweeted, “Mindful of my security and the stability of the Indian Ocean, I have taken refuge at the Indian High Commission in Maldives.” Anti-riot police is understood to have set up barricades around the Indian High Commission premises in Male.

Soon after Nasheed entered the Indian High Commission saying he wanted to meet High Commissioner D M Mulay, New Delhi was informed about the developments in the Maldives. National Security Adviser Shivshanker Menon, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and other senior officials immediately reviewed the situation in the tiny nation.

India is not comfortable with the situation in the Indian Ocean archipelago

It does not want to be seen to be taking sides in the ongoing power struggle between the ousted President and his successor Mohamed Waheed

Presidential elections to be held in September. 

Nasheed himself was a candidate in the Presidential polls

Arrest warrant was issued against Nasheed after he failed to turn up in the court on Monday in connection with the alleged illegal detention of Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012. 

Nasheed had sought India’s help immediately after the arrest warrant was issued.