It’s necessary that all Presidential candidates be free to participate in the elections without any hindrance- India

India has stated that it is necessary that the Presidential nominees of recognized political parties be free to participate in the elections without any hindrance.

India made this remark in a press release issued by the Official Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, regarding the political situation of Maldives.

“Following the arrest warrant issued against him by the Hulhumale Magistrate Court, the former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, who is a candidate for the Presidential elections in Maldives scheduled for September 2013, is in the Indian High Commission and has sought India’s assistance. We are in touch with the relevant Maldivian authorities to resolve the situation,” the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs said.

As a close and friendly neighbour, India has expressed concern over the ongoing political instability in Maldives and called upon the Government and all political parties to adhere strictly to democratic principles and the rule of law, thereby paving the way for free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.

Now that the President of the Election Commission of Maldives has announced that Presidential elections would be held on 7 September 2013, the Indian government stated that it is necessary that the Presidential nominees of recognized political parties be free to participate in the elections 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 Maldives. This is not in the interest of Maldives or the region,” the spokesperson of Indian government said.

India called upon the Government and all political parties in Maldives to avoid any actions that would vitiate the political atmosphere in the Maldives.

Mean time Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group's Deputy Leader Ali Waheed has said that the Presidential Candidate of MDP, the former President Mohamed Nasheed has taken refuge in the Indian High Commission in Male' and he will come out of the embassy for the election.

Speaking at the MDP National Council, Thoddoo constituency MP Ali Waheed said that Nasheed have taken refuge in the Indian High Commission and he is under threat by the coup government. He said that Nasheed will endanger himself if he were to come out of the High Commission.

Ali Waheed said this following Nasheed seeking refuge in the Indian High Commission when the Hulhumale' Magistrate Court ordered the Police to arrest Nasheed and produce him in court for the hearing of the case against him.

Ali Waheed said that MDP will not hand over Nasheed to the current government which he described as "the coup government."

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