Clashes erupt in Maldives Parliament during crucial vote on President Muizzu's Cabinet
Male, Jan 28: Clashes broke out in Maldives' Parliament on Sunday between pro-government MPs and opposition lawmakers over differences over the approval of four members of pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet.
The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) decided to withhold parliamentary approval for four members of President Muizzu's cabinet ahead of the voting on the cabinet. Subsequently, pro-government MPs initiated a protest, obstructing the parliamentary sitting from proceeding, according to local media reports.
During the clash, an altercation occurred between Kanditheemu MP Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem Shaheem and Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa when the former tripped and knocked down Easa.
Shaheem had also sustained injuries on his head when the two parliamentarians fell near the chamber during the scuffle. Minority leader Moosa Siraj had attempted to stop the altercation.
Shaheem has now been taken to the hospital, according to the reports.
The decision of the opposition MDP and The Democrats' parliamentary group not to approve some members of President Muizzu's cabinet, has led to the ruling party Progressive Party of Maldives and People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition affiliated parliamentarians to disrupt parliament proceedings and enter the chambers of the Speaker, the report added.
A video viral on social media shows MPs gathered near the speaker's chair and engaged in a physical altercation.
Meanwhile, Mathiveri Member of Parliament Hassan Zareer also sustained serious injuries on his finger. According to a parliamentarian, Zareer was injured during the scuffle between the members.
While the voting has been halted, pro-government supporters and officials are currently protesting outside the parliament, calling for the approval of cabinet ministers.
MDP, which has a majority in parliament, has decided not to vote to approve Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr. Ali Haidar, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed.
The Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) coalition have said that denying parliamentary approval to President Muizzu's cabinet will be tantamount to obstructing the services the government gives to citizens.
Meanwhile, the ruling PPM-PNC coalition has filed no-confidence motions against the Parliament's Speaker Mohamed Aslam and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem, Sun.mv news website reported.
The no-confidence motion stems from the stalled cabinet approval. The coalition has accused Speaker Aslam of misusing his official capacity to complement the interests of a certain party, it said.
Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17 last year, Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi.
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— Adhadhu (@AdhadhuMV) January 28, 2024
Parliament proceedings have been disrupted after clashes between PPM/PNC MPs and opposition MPs. pic.twitter.com/vhvfCBgQ1s
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Ajit Pawar's support to Waqf Bill shows his hypocrisy and helplessness for power, alleges Sapkal
Mumbai, Apr 4 (PTI): Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Friday said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's support to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was a sign of his helplessness for power and shows the hypocrisy of his politics.
He also said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's ploy to intimidate the Muslim community and seize thousands of acres of land.
The contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday and by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of Friday after marathon debates in both Houses of Parliament. The bill aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties (assets permanently donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes) with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar supported the bill in Parliament.
"Ajit Pawar's support to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a sign of his helplessness for power. His secular mask has been exposed and he has betrayed the Muslim community," Sapkal told reporters.
Despite joining the government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ajit Pawar and his NCP claimed they had not abandoned the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. However, their true face has now been exposed, he alleged.
By supporting the BJP-led government's Waqf Bill, Ajit Pawar has completely surrendered to the BJP for the sake of power. He not only betrayed his uncle, Sharad Pawar, by taking the party's name and symbol with the BJP's help, but also aligned himself with communal forces for power, the Congress leader hit out at the deputy CM.
"Ajit Pawar continues to claim that his participation in the Mahayuti government is for the sake of development and that he has not abandoned the progressive ideals. However, his actions tell a different story," he said.
"At an Iftar party, he made bold declarations that those harassing the Muslim community would not be spared or forgiven. But within a few days, his NCP faction supported the Waqf Bill, thereby betraying the Muslim community," he said.
The bill is nothing more than a ploy by the BJP government to intimidate the Muslim community and seize thousands of acres of land, he said.
The BJP government has already set a course to hand over key properties, including those in Dharavi, to a particular industrialist. After acquiring Waqf lands, this government will hand them over to their favoured business tycoons. Ajit Pawar, a senior leader, is fully aware of this, yet he is unable to stay away from power. He has bowed before the BJP and supported the bill, Sapkal alleged.
"Ajit Pawar's actions reveal the hypocrisy of his politics. What he preaches and what he practices is entirely different. People must recognise this deception and stay alert," he warned.
