Male:
Days after leaving the Indian diplomatic mission, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has reiterated that there was an understanding between New Delhi and the Maldivian government that prompted him to leave the Indian mission in Male. He, however, adds the understanding is fragile.
Speaking to NDTV, Mr Nasheed said, "I believe that there is some, although vague, contours of an understanding. The idea was that the Indian government has assurances from the Maldivian government that the elections would inclusive, free and fair and I would be able to undertake peaceful political activity. But unfortunately this understanding is very precarious, it's very fragile and there is not enough firmness in it."
Mr Nasheed had taken shelter in the Indian Mission on February 13 to evade arrest after he failed to appear in court on charges of detaining Chief Criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed during his Presidency in January last year. He left the mission last Friday.
He says it is a politically motivated case to bar him from presidential polls in September. Mr Nasheed also told NDTV that the Indian mission was his last refuge since the current regime wants to eliminate him - one way or the other.
"There was no place I could have gone... they were going to arrest me. You must understand that the government here was formed after a very violent coup and it's not a legitimately-formed government. And I am their unfinished business. So when they want to consolidate power they will try to get rid of me and they're trying to do that rapidly," he said.
Mr Nasheed also had some words of praise for officials in the Indian mission, denying that he had been persuaded to leave. "Indian officials were always very vehement in saying that I would be free to stay and very welcoming in Indian high commission as long as I wanted to stay," he said.
Speaking to NDTV, Mr Nasheed said, "I believe that there is some, although vague, contours of an understanding. The idea was that the Indian government has assurances from the Maldivian government that the elections would inclusive, free and fair and I would be able to undertake peaceful political activity. But unfortunately this understanding is very precarious, it's very fragile and there is not enough firmness in it."
Mr Nasheed had taken shelter in the Indian Mission on February 13 to evade arrest after he failed to appear in court on charges of detaining Chief Criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed during his Presidency in January last year. He left the mission last Friday.
He says it is a politically motivated case to bar him from presidential polls in September. Mr Nasheed also told NDTV that the Indian mission was his last refuge since the current regime wants to eliminate him - one way or the other.
"There was no place I could have gone... they were going to arrest me. You must understand that the government here was formed after a very violent coup and it's not a legitimately-formed government. And I am their unfinished business. So when they want to consolidate power they will try to get rid of me and they're trying to do that rapidly," he said.
Mr Nasheed also had some words of praise for officials in the Indian mission, denying that he had been persuaded to leave. "Indian officials were always very vehement in saying that I would be free to stay and very welcoming in Indian high commission as long as I wanted to stay," he said.
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