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COLUMN FOREIGN AFFAIRS

India eyes strategic to infuse a fresh lease of life into their

‘India First’ policy. The External Af-
interests in Maldives fairs Ministry also issued a statement,
saying, “This election marks not only
the triumph of democratic forces in
the Maldives, but also reflects the firm
New Delhi needs to act smoothly and cautiously as the political commitment to the values of democ-
ASIAN DRAMA ramifications of Maldives poll results will spill out of the confines of racy and the rule of law.”
The successful completion of the
SYED this tiny archipelago and become a major factor in the power game third democratic election process in
the Maldives does indicate that democ-
NOORUZZAMAN racy is growing roots in this SAARC
arely has any tiny coun- sition, providing proof that his continu- (South Asian Association for Regional
try like the Maldives got ance in power was doubtful. What was Cooperation) member-nation slowly
The columnist — former so-much media attention calculated then has been found to be but surely. Now it is the responsibility
Deputy Editor of The as is the case with this true after the September 23 presidential of India and the West to mend their
Tribune, Chandigarh — archipelago in the Indian election results. fences with Male in a friendly manner,
specialises in foreign R Ocean region after the vic- The change of government in Male, a ending the bitterness of the past.
affairs. With a career tory of the joint opposition candidate in major setback for China, has sent across One can get a peep into minds of the
spanning 41 years, he the just concluded presidential election the message that any amount of money new rulers in Male by going through
keeps close watch on there. Its strategic location has been the spent on welfare schemes cannot buy what a former Foreign Minister of the mission in Male over four decades ago, continued to grow even when Moham-
issues related to South primary reason for India, China, the US people’s support unless they are con- Maldives and daughter of Gayoom, Du- but its presence there is very limited ed Nasheed replaced Gayoom in 2008
Asian countries. The and the European Union, besides many vinced that their government cares for nya Maumoon, told an Indian journal- compared to that of China, which set as the first democratically elected
views expressed are other countries, showing considerable their basic freedoms, is not tyrannical ist after Solih’s election was confirmed: up its embassy in 2011. China today has President. Indian firm GMR Infrastruc-
personal interest to have their presence in the and formulates policies as dictated by “India remains a close friend and will a free trade agreement with the Mal- ture was given the biggest $511 million
Maldives. the country’s own interests. Yameen’s continue to remain so. But India has dives, but India has no such arrange- contract for the development of Male
But, first of all, there is need to under- too much tilt towards China could not to learn to respect a small country ment. Beijing boosted its relations with international airport, besides other
stand the implications of the victory of be swallowed by the Maldivians, well like the Maldives. We may be tiny, but Male through a string of mega projects projects, during the Nasheed govern-
the joint opposition candidate, Ibrahim aware of China’s dictatorial handling of we don’t care for bullying tactics. We relating to various key areas like infra- ment, but it was terminated by his suc-
Mohamed Solih, over the incumbent the aspirations of the Tibetans and the understand India’s security concerns structure development, leaving India cessor, Mohamed Waheed Hassan.
President, Abdulla Yameen, for India Uyghurs in Xinjiang. as China has moved much closer here, far behind. The situation took a more painful
and China, the two major contend- Yameen’s defeat at the hands of Solih and we will be sensitive to it.” China’s mega projects-driven for- turn with Yameen taking over as Presi-
ers for influence in the Maldives. The is a moment of joy not only for India but Dunya, who is likely to be a minister eign policy needs to be responded to by dent in Male. He fell into the Chinese
substantial victory margin, over 17 per also for democracy-lovers all over the again, has expressed the view that her India in the same manner. The signifi- debt trap laid through Beijing’s String
cent, for Solih shows how unpopular world. The opportunity that has come country may not pursue a policy to cance of the need for India’s increased of Pearls policy. Yameen changed the
Yameen had become mainly because of India’s way calls for careful handling of damage Male’s relations with Beijing, presence in the Maldives, hardly 1200 law to allow Chinese firms’ ownership
his dictatorial and short-sighted policies the emerging situation in the Maldives. but would prefer to adopt a balanced km from the Indian mainland, can be of the land where they set up their
backed by China. The President-elect of the Maldives has approach while responding to offers of understood from the fact that more business establishments, resulting
Yameen, a half brother of former a soft corner for India but he would like any kind of help from neighbours like than 97 per cent of our international in great resentment against his rule.
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, to be given equal treatment by New India and China. The new government trade is conducted through the Indian Opposition parties displayed rare unity
behaved like Indira Gandhi when he Delhi, which need to come forward with of the Maldives will be “looking for a Ocean where the Maldives is located. to express their concern against this
The change of govt imposed an emergency in February this development projects and financial as- more balanced relationship”, as she The Indian Ocean area has as many as dangerous policy of Yameen through
pointed out. This clearly means that
sistance enough for Male to forget about
street protests and other means, awak-
year after the Maldives Supreme Court
44 countries, home to 40 per cent of
in Male, a major ruled that jailed opposition leaders like the flow of funds from Beijing. efforts would be made by Male to save the world’s population. ening the public about the disturbing
India has had the best of rela-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
setback for China, the ex-President Mohamed Nasheed be congratulatory telephone call, convey- the tiny Indian Ocean country from tions with the Maldives during the development in the name of economic
released as the charges framed against
slipping into a situation of “debt bond-
advancement.
has sent across the them under the anti-terrorism law ing his “good wishes for the strengthen- age” of China, which is part of the latest 30-year-long rule of Maumoon Abdul However, it will be quite tricky for
message that any could not stand scrutiny by the coun- ing of democracy, peace and prosperity” policy of Beijing, too visible in the case Gayoom there. In 1988, when a group the new government in Male to get the
try’s judiciary. Power-drunk Yameen,
archipelago disentangled from China
of mercenaries threatened to take
of Pakistan. Till the end of the Yameen
in the Maldives under the leadership of
amount of money perhaps, thought that he could manage Solih, must have gone down well with regime the Maldives had been moving over the government there through a and extend its hands of cooperation
spent on welfare to cling on to power with the help of the President-elect. This shows that In- towards getting entrapped by China’s coup, India was the first country to be towards other nations like India. How
Chinese bounty in the form of a number dia is ready with all kinds of help it can
approached for help, and it responded
the Solih government plays its cards
aid politics, but the situation may get
schemes cannot buy of mega projects. However, the growing provide as a next-door neighbour, but it reversed if the new government con- through its Operation Cactus, ending will be interesting to watch.
the threat forever.
all depends on how New Delhi succeeds
unrest in the country forced him to lift
tinues to function smoothly.
people’s support the emergency after 45 days of its impo- in persuading the new Maldivian rulers India established its diplomatic India’s relations with the Maldives LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
TEHELKA / 15 OCTOBER 2018 54 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 15 OCTOBER 2018 55 WWW.TEHELKA.COM
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