Maldives: India worked backstage

India worked behind the scenes to ensure a smooth transition in Maldives with President Mohamed Nasheed resigning in favour of Vice-President Mohamed Waheed on Tuesday afternoon after weeks of unrest in the island nation.

While New Delhi has made it clear that there is no case for intervention in what is an “internal matter” of the nation, it is believed that the Indian High Commission was in the picture during consultations between opposition parties and the government on Tuesday to ensure that the situation did not break down into chaos. It is learnt that Indian diplomats helped in bringing together the ruling and opposition parties for talks.

Sources said the transition, triggered by several senior police officials joining the protests against Nasheed, was carried out in a “politically conducive” manner and the arrangement to replace Nasheed with Waheed was worked out in consultation with all opposition and ruling parties.

India has made it clear that unlike 1988 when Tamil separatists from Sri Lanka attempted to seize power, promoting the launching of ‘Operation Cactus’ by the Indian armed forces to restore power to the then President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, there is no case for intervention in the present crisis as no external forces were at work.

“This is an internal matter of the Maldives, to be resolved by Maldivians. We hope that all issues will be resolved in a peaceful and democratic manner,” an MEA spokesperson said, adding that New Delhi is “closely monitoring the situation” and the Indian community in the nation is safe. More than 30,000 Indian citizens are working in the Maldives.