NEW YORK/MALE, Sep 28: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has denied ever pursuing an anti-India agenda, and has condemned the mockery of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by two Deputy Ministers and said he took appropriate action immediately.
The Maldivian President made the remarks in response to a question during the ‘Deans Leadership Series’ of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.
President Muizzu also said he never had an ‘India Out’ perspective and the issue had always been with the presence of the Indian military in the Maldives, adhadhu reported.
“We have never been against any one country at any point. It’s not India Out. Maldives faced a serious problem with foreign military presence on this soil,” Muizzu stated.
“The people of Maldives do not want a single foreign soldier in the country.” Muizzu said “we might be a small country, but that does not give you the license to bully us.”
Muizzu further stressed that he had taken action against the deputy ministers for insulting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
“No one should say such a thing. I took action against it. I will not accept insulting anyone like that, whether he is a leader or an ordinary person. Every human being has a reputation,” he said.
Earlier this year, Deputy Youth Ministers Malsha Shareef and Mariyam Shiuna called Modi a “clown” and a “terrorist” on social media posts.
They were both on suspension with pay following the incident that caused a diplomatic row between the Maldives and India.
However, both of them resigned on the day President Muizzu announced his scheduled visit to India.
The Maldivian President is scheduled to visit India in October, according to reports.
Muizzu also said that the Maldives’ plans to ban Israeli passports does not mean the country is against Jews.
Muizzu said the purpose of banning Israeli passports is to condemn the country’s atrocities in Palestine.
“Maldives’ goal is to do what it can do, no matter how small, to reject the crimes committed by Israel against Palestine. Israeli passports will be banned as soon as the Parliament passes the matter,” he said.
Muizzu also said this does not mean that the Maldives is antisemitic and that the country welcomes people of all religions.
“I am speaking very clearly. The purpose of banning Israeli passports is to reject what Israel is doing in Palestine. It has nothing to do with Jews or any other religion. Good and evil do not have to belong to any particular religion. Maldives will welcome everyone, whether they are Jewish, Christians or Muslims,” he added.
Muizzu also said he believes all human beings are equal.
“We are not antisemitic. We are friendly to all nations. I believe that everyone is equal. All human beings are equal. Everyone has the right to life. Every human being has dignity,” he said.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had proposed a ban on Israeli passports. The bill is now in a parliamentary committee. The bill was parked in the committee when the government later announced in June to amend laws to ban Israeli passports.
But less than two months later, the government changed its tone on banning Israeli passports.
(UNI)
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