Male: Maldives` ousted president Mohammed Nasheed on Saturday said he was disappointed with India over its
response to the political turmoil without having properly
understood the ground situation in his country.
44-year-old Nasheed, who was forced to step down, making
way for his deputy Mohammed Waheed Hassan to assume the post
of President, made known his unhappiness over New Delhi
reaching out to the new leadership.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had written to the new
President Hassan on Wednesday, expressing "continued support"
to the efforts to ensure stability and peace in that country.
"We are with the idea, with the belief that India would
have a very proper understanding of the situation in Maldives,
that they will have necessary information and intelligence to
make a judgement," Nasheed said.
He said it was disappointing to find that this was not so.
"I think people will have to be focused on what is
happening," he said, adding that he had conveyed his feelings
to India`s special envoy M Ganapathi.
Nasheed said he has expressed his opinion to Ganapathi,
Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, during his
meeting with him. "The envoy will take what I said to the
Prime Minister," he said.
Later, speaking to a group of Indian journalists, Nasheed
insisted that conspiracy to overthrow him was hatched well in
advance, and that New Delhi should seek an independent probe
into the crisis.
"Well, a fare amount of our party workers.... grass root
level were wondering why there is no understanding between
Indian authorities and us. It is an issue of concern," Nasheed
said when told that some of his party members have expressed
disappointment over India`s response to the situation.
"The planning happened much earlier, the execution of it
was on that day," he said, speaking about the events of the
day he resigned.
He said he went to the headquarters of Maldives National
Defence Force (MNDF) where about 150 police officials were
present along with protesters.
"I wanted the military to arrest them but they did not,"
he said relating the developments leading up to his
resignation.
He said the personnel inside told him that he has to
resign or there will be violence.
"I thought the best way to get out of MNDF is that I will
tell them that I will resign," he said.
PTI
