Concerned over Maldives political instability, says PM

(PTI): Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed concern over the political instability in Maldives and hoped that it will have "free, fair and credible" elections in September, which India would support.

With Maldives witnessing a tussle between the Waheed government and former President Mohammed Nasheed, Singh said India wants all stakeholders in the island nation to resolve the issues "through dialogue".

He said that India would work closely to strengthen the relations with the island nation.

"We remain concerned about critical political instability in Maldives. It is our hope that Maldives will have free, fair and credible elections in September to elect their President," Singh said replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the Presidential address.

"India will support all efforts to ensure free, fair and credible elections...We are closely monitoring the developments. We will work closely to strengthen our relations with Maldives," the Prime Minister said.

Singh asked all stakeholders in Maldives to resolve the issues "through dialogue".

He noted that the election commission in Maldives has announced that Presidential polls would be held in September.

His comments came a day after Nasheed was arrested yesterday less than a fortnight after he left the Indian High Commission in Male where he was holed up for 11 days to evade arrest in a case concerning the detention of the Chief Criminal Judge during his Presidency. Nasheed was released by the court yesterday.

By the meantime India has urged all concerned to excercise caution and restraint. In response to a query on the arrest of the former President of Maldives, the Official Spokesperson said that India has  received information that former President Nasheed was taken into (Police) custody following an order issued by the Hulhumale Magistrate Court to produce him at 1600 hrs on March 6, 2013.

The official spokeserson said that India expects due process and the Rule of Law would be followed.

"We would urge all concerned to exercise caution and restraint and not to resort to any violence or extra-constitutional means and steps which would weaken the democratic system," he said.

The Official Spokesperson noted that India has been informed that former President Nasheed's lawyers and family are going to meet him now as allowed by the authorities. He said that  India is monitoring the situation closely.