The owner of H. Hurafaa has been asked to take down the 'India Out' banner hanging from the building.
The opposing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)'s office is located in the Hurafaa building. As part of the opposition's India Out campaign seeking to drive out Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives, supporters of the movement have been hanging banners with the India Out slogan from their buildings. PPM hung a banner from H. Hurafaa earlier this week, while former President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom also hung a giant banner from his residential home on Tuesday
Maldives Police Service on Wednesday sent a letter to the owner of the Hurafaa building, Hussain Rasheed, asking to take down the banner. In the letter, the police said hanging a banner in public view with the India Out slogan discredits and disrespects the neighboring country. It would negatively affect international ties and bilateral and traditional relations with neighboring countries, it said. It further read that the act could negatively impact Maldivians living and visiting India. As such actions could produce dangerous situations, the police requested Hussian Rasheed to take down the banner hanging from his building to protect the public.
The police repeatedly declined to make a comment when asked regarding the letter.
Earlier on Wednesday, Parliament Speaker and former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed had voiced his concern about the banners. Nasheed said banners with the India Out slogan must not be allowed to hang from buildings and that Maldives Police Service must put a stop to such actions.
'My opinion is that the law does not allow large banners that disparage neighboring countries to be hung from tall buildings of Male' City,' said Nasheed.
Nasheed has always made it clear that India is an important partner of the Maldives and defends dealings with the country. The opposition continues to assert that India exerts undue influence on the Maldives and threatens national security and the country's independence.
