Belittling India will harm ties with other nations too: Maldives leader

New Delhi, February 26

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Dismissing rumours that he was propped up by India, former Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid said the current regime’s tendency to belittle India’s leaders would also disrupt ties with other countries.

Shahid, who is now the leader of the main opposition MDP, warned that the ultimate outcome of a spat with India would have a detrimental impact on the income of ordinary Maldivians. Shahid, who became president of the UNGA in 2021-22, said Maldives couldn’t distance itself from India as a regional ally regardless of foreign policy changes.

He also recalled the incident back in January when three junior ministers made disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. While they were sacked, Shahid said, “It is not only the relations with India that deteriorate when such remarks are made against Indian leaders. Other countries would also judge us.” He accused the Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu of not sharing details about the agreements signed with China during his Beijing visit.