Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
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‘India-first policy will continue under the new government’
India played a “positive” role in restoration of democracy in Maldives by “exerting pressure” on the ruling regime, and the new government in the island nation would be “sensitive” towards New Delhi’s “concerns”, said former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Sunday. Nearly a month after he was released from jail, Mr. Gayoom said the government of President Abdulla Yameen inflicted “huge damage” on Maldives but democratic forces have prevailed over their “enemies”. Joint opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came out victorious in the September 23 presidential election, handing a shock defeat to Mr. Yameen. Asked whether Mr. Yameen drew his strength from strong backing by China, Mr. Gayoom hoped that Beijing would respect the will of the Maldivian people. Asked about India’s role after imposition of emergency by Mr. Yameen in February, Mr. Gayoom said, “India did play a positive role, and along with other international partners, did exert pressure towards restoration of democracy.” “I do not see the events of the last few years having a lasting impact (on bilateral ties)… I do not think these bumps and turbulence would impact decades of (our) India-first policy,” he said. Describing India as the “closest and most trusted ally”, he said it was in the interests of all countries that there is stability in the Indian Ocean region.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/india-helped-us-in-restoring-democracy/article25355703.ece
