With the second court order against Mohamed Nasheed expiring and the ex-Maldives president staying put in the Indian Mission, a team of Indian diplomats on Wednesday rushed to Male and met various stakeholders in the ongoing crisis.
The team, led by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, first called on Maldives Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdullah and is scheduled to meet various senior political leaders.
His arrival came on the day when Nasheed was ordered to be present at the Hulhumale Magistrate Court over charges related to the detention of a judge during his presidency. The Maldives had informed the High Commission about this warrant on Tuesday. After being told by police that they were unable to produce Nasheed, the court cancelled the hearing.
An earlier court warrant had led Nasheed to enter the premises of the Indian Mission and ask for asylum. India hasn’t technically granted him asylum, but asserted that they are only providing assistance.
Having found itself dragged into domestic political machinations, India issued a statement that there should be free, fair and inclusive elections and that nominees of political parties should not be barred from contesting. Nasheed and his Maldivian Democratic Party have claimed the case was politically-motivated, with an aim to stopping the former president from standing in the September presidential elections.