Nasheed rejects police summons; Mathai in Maldives for talks

He will meet a number of Maldivian political leaders,including Nasheed and new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan,official sources said.

Last week,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had dispatched his special envoy M Ganapathi here.

Ganapathi,Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs,had held talks with both Hassan and Nasheed and sought a peaceful solution to the complex situation here.

Since Nasheed’s resignation,there have been a slew of diplomatic visits here from various countries,including the US.

Currently,a delegation of the European Union is in Male. Nasheed and his supporters have openly expressed their disappointment with the Indian government for its stand over the turn of events here. Nasheed was unhappy over New Delhi reaching out to the new leadership.

Prime Minister Singh had written to new President Hassan,expressing “continued support” for the efforts to ensure stability and peace in the country.

Dejected by the cold shoulder given by India,Nasheed had said that New Delhi had taken his party “for granted” and may lose “leverage” to China under the new regime.

Diplomatic sources,however,said India continued to be good friends with both Nasheed and the new regime.

“Our policy is not party-centric or people-centric. We continue to remain friends with both. We have been engaging with both sides,” a source said.

The sources pointed out that India had facilitated the former regime and will continue to facilitate the government in the country.

“Relations are taken forward with the government and the people. India remains a strong supporter of Maldivian people,” they said.

With the political crisis in Maldives persisting,ousted President Mohammad Nasheed rejected a police summons to record his statement on his controversial order to arrest a key judge,even as India’s top diplomat arrived here today to take stock of the situation.

Maldives new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan named Mohammed Waheed Deen,a minister in the government of former autocratic leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,as his deputy.

Deen’s appointment followed Hassan’s assertion that he would appoint a Vice-President with no political affiliations.

Hassan also denied allegations of a coup and said Nasheed had resigned after realising that he had lost the confidence of the people as well as that of his own administration,in particular the law and order enforcement arms.

“On his own accord,he (Nasheed) resigned,although he later claimed he had been ousted in a violent ‘coup’,” Hassan was quoted by his office.

Amidst stepped up efforts by India and other key members of the international community to help ease the crisis here,Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai arrived here this evening for talks with the Maldivian leaders.

Mathai,who is accompanied by Harsvardhan Shringla,Joint Secretary (Bangladesh,Sri Lanka and Maldives) in the External Affairs Ministry,is scheduled to hold talks with Hassan and then Nasheed,who has expressed his disappointment with India’s stand on the turn of events here.

Last week,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had sent here his special envoy M Ganapathi,who held talks with both Hassan and Nasheed and sought a peaceful solution to the complex situation.

Since Nasheed’s resignation,there have been a slew of diplomatic visits here from various countries,including US. Currently,an EU team is in Male.