MDP MPs hijack Majlis chamber
Gayyoom is responsible for consecutive disruption of Majlis sittings- Sameer

MPs of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have yesterday hijacked the chamber of the Peoples’ Majlis and refused to leave and let the opposition MPs leave the premises unless the sitting is resumed.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Dhidhdhoo MP Ahmed Sameer said that the MPs of the ruling party will leave the chamber only when the Majlis resumes its sittings.

“Not only tonight and tomorrow. We will not leave even if it takes days, months and years for the Majlis to resume its sittings. This is not for the advantage of MDP. This is for the people of Maldives. And by necessity we are doing this,” he said.

Sameer said that the government and the ruling party do not believe that two or three members can interrupt the sitting of the Majlis consecutively and thereby interrupt the whole state from running.

Sameer said that MDP tried their best to hold a Majlis session yesterday evening but the Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim refused to resume a sitting.

“He is saying that the sitting can only be resumed tomorrow (today) morning. So we will be here till then. No MDP member will leave the premises of the Majlis chamber except for a dire necessity,” he said.

Furthermore, Sameer also said that the Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom should be responsible for the actions of his followers from the Z- faction of the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) from disrupting Majlis sessions.

“In front of the media Gayyoom boldly said that the real DRP are those who support him, the Z-faction of DRP. The sittings are being disrupted by these very people. So how is that anyone else other than Gayyoom has to take the responsibility for these acts of these rabbles? He is the one to be blamed,” he queried.

After barricading the doors of the chambers, MDP Interim Chairperson also spoke similarly saying that Gayyoom is to blame for the current deadlock in the Majlis.

Supporters of both the ruling party and the opposition gathered in the surrounding areas of the Peoples’ Majlis.