Maldives government on Monday refuted local media reports indicating that the Indian government had revised its visa policy to the crisis-hit archipelago and suspended issuing visas for Maldivians travelling to India for purposes other than tourism.
"Following media reports claiming a suspension on issuing visas for Maldivians travelling to India for purposes other than tourism, MFA has received confirmation from the Indian Embassy in Malé that there has been no change in visa policy by the government of India," the Tweet read.
"Following media reports claiming a suspension on issuing visas for Maldivians travelling to India for purposes other than tourism, MFA has received confirmation from the Indian Embassy in Malé that there has been no change in visa policy by the government of India," the Tweet read.
Tensions between the two once friendly neighbours have been at an all time low since the island nation was plunged into fresh political turmoil after the Supreme Court on February 1 ordered the immediate release of jailed political leaders including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on February 5 had declared a 15 day state of emergency after his last ditch attempt to convince the top court to revoke the order failed, purged the Supreme Court by arresting two judges and the remaining political leaders and ultimately had the order revoked.
As the state of emergency expired, president Yameen had got the parliament contentiously extend it by another 30 days.
Less than a day after the arrest of the two judges, the remaining three judges rescinded its ruling to release the political leaders referring to the concerns raised by president Yameen in the letters he had sent to the chief justice hours before state of emergency was declared.
In addition to Nasheed, the other top political leaders named in the now rescinded order included Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim, religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla, former defence minister Mohamed Nazim, former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor and Gayoom's lawmaker son Faris Maumoon.
Former prosecutor general Muhthaz Muhsin, magistrate Ahmed Nihan and Adheeb's uncle Hamid Ismail make up the rest of the list.
