Self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed has again bemoaned India's silence over the raging political crisis in the Maldives, warning that the South Asian giant's inaction could worsen the situation in the archipelago, throwing the stability of the entire region into disarray.
In an exclusive interaction with the Times of India, Nasheed and top leader of the four party joint opposition said that the silence of regional powers will allow the chaos in the archipelago to worsen throwing the region into disarray.
Maldives has been hit by fresh political turmoil where soldiers barred the now united opposition lawmakers from entering the parliament complex on Monday.
Opposition lawmakers had stormed the parliament on Monday after police together with the military had locked up parliament to stop the impeachment of parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh.
Riot police and soldiers then entered the parliament to forcibly drag the lawmakers out.
The now united opposition had wrested parliament control from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to file a no-confidence motion against the speaker.
Maldives has been ravaged by fresh political strife after all opposition leaders including former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom penned a historic treaty to work against the government.
In recent weeks, the opposition has scored major victories after wresting parliament majority from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with help of government lawmakers loyal to the deposed PPM leader Gayoom and his lawmaker son Faris Maumoon.
The elder Gayoom had a major falling-out with half brother president Yameen which has seen the ruling party split into two factions. The former strongman who ruled the country for three decades before being defeated by Nasheed in the first democratic elections in 2008.
"It is worrying that, even when red lines are crossed, regional powers remain silent and inactive because that can allow the chaos and conflict to spiral out of control," Nasheed told TOI.
"The Maldives is in full blown political crisis. President Yameen's troops continue to occupy parliament, forcibly evicting opposition MPs and preventing the legislature from functioning," he added.
"Yameen no longer even pretends to respect the law or the Constitution. He turns a blind eye to Islamic radicalism and entertains partnerships that undermine Indian Ocean stability,'' said Nasheed.
