Leaving diplomatic row behind, Maldives President wishes India on Republic Day
Male, Jan 26: Highlighting the Maldives-India bond "nurtured by centuries of friendship, mutual respect, and a deep sense of kinship," President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday wished India on the occasion of its 75th Republic Day.
The President's greeting "from the Government and the people of the Maldives" to "the Government and the people of India," came in the backdrop of a diplomatic row between the two nations over several issues that unfolded after China-leaning Muizzu took the oath of office in November last year.
Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and two former presidents, Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, too wished India on their social media platforms.
A statement from Muizzu's office said the President sent greetings and good wishes to the President and Prime Minister of India in separate messages and conveyed greetings and extended his heartfelt felicitations.
Muizzu "underscored the Maldives-India bond nurtured by centuries of friendship, mutual respect, and a deep sense of kinship," and expressed hope for "continued peace, progress, and prosperity" for the Government and people of India for years to come, the statement said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Zameer congratulated his counterpart S Jaishankar and the friendly people of India with "warmest greetings and sincere good wishes" and said, in a post on X, "I am confident that the close bonds of friendship and cooperation between Maldives and India will continue to flourish in the years ahead."
The diplomatic row started with Muizzu demanding India to repatriate its military personnel from the island nation within 24 hours of his swearing-in, followed by his decision to make China the first port of call breaking the tradition of visiting India first, and a muddied atmosphere due to unruly comments by three Maldivian ministers on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The latest in the series was the Maldives agreeing earlier this week to allow a Chinese research vessel to dock at Male port against India's apprehension about the Chinese navy's growing forays in the Indian Ocean.
Nasheed took to X to post: "A very happy Republic Day to the Prime Minister and people of India! Maldives-Indian friendship is eternal, and we are very grateful to India, its people and personnel, for all the assistance provided to us over the years."
So did Solih, who said, "May the unbreakable bonds of friendship that have long existed between Maldives and India go from strength to strength."
The Maldives' proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland's western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.
The Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the IOR and occupies a special place in its initiatives like SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy' of the Narendra Modi government.
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Cong leader Prithviraj Chavan defiant after facing verbal missiles on Op Sindoor remarks
Mumbai (PTI): Despite facing criticism, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday stood by his controversial comments that India faced a "total defeat" in aerial fight with Pakistan on the first day of Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The former Union minister refused to apologise for his comments on the Indian military operation against terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK in aftermath of massacre of tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in April.
Talking to reporters in Pune on Tuesday, Chavan claimed India faced a "total defeat in the aerial fight (with Pakistan) on May 7 which lasted for half-an-hour".
"One may believe this or not. After that the Indian Air Force got grounded and not a single aircraft took flight that day.... be it Gwalior, Bhatinda or Sirsa, there was a possibility of aircraft being shot down, so our complete Air Force was grounded," the former Maharashtra chief minister had said.
Hitting out at Chavan, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused the Congress of speaking the language of Pakistan. He said questioning the military action was akin to demoralising the morale of armed forces.
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"The criticism does not stem from the love of the nation, but love for Pakistan," said the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the BJP-led NDA.
Chavan, however, remained defiant.
"There is no question of apologising. The Constitution has given me the right to ask questions," the Congress veteran asserted.
Chavan also questioned the need of having a 12-lakh strong Army when future wars will be about aerial combats and missiles. "During Operation Sindoor we saw that there was no movement of the Army even for a kilometre," he had said.
BJP Lok Sabha MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said Chavan's remarks are loaded with sedition.
"He (Chavan) has refused to apologise. The Indian armed forces struck 100 kms inside the Pakistan territory and destroyed 11 air strips (of the Pakistani Air Force). He made remarks that the Indian Army did not even move an inch (during the military operation). This is nothing but a statement full of sedition, a statement of a traitor," Patra said, lashing out at the Congress leader.
The BJP spokesperson maintained the Congress appears to be standing with Chavan and alleged the Opposition party is playing into foreign hands.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should apologise for it, he added.
Union minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP insisted it was not right to devalue the valour of Indian armed forces.
Samajwadi Party MP Virendra Singh suggested that wherever armed forces are concerned, every Indian should be mindful of statements they make and ensure their comments do not demoralise the military.
Operation Sindoor was a result of "mistakes of politicians", he claimed.
TDP MP Krishna Devraylu said after the poll defeat in Bihar, the Congress is rattled and their leaders have been talking absurdly.
"Chavan's remarks are a prime example of this. This kind of disrespect to our armed forces is not necessary. If the Congress is angry with the NDA, it should show it in a different way and not drag armed forces into it," Devraylu opined.
AAP MP Ashok Mittal said such statements should not be made by any senior politician, especially by someone who has been a former chief minister.
The Indian armed forces registered a strong victory and destroyed terror launchpads in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Mittal added.
