No valid reason to extend emergency: India to Maldives

India said on Thursday it does not see a valid reason for the Maldivian parliament to extend emergency.

Maldivian police officers push back Opposition supporters near the main Opposition Maldives Democratic Party headquarters during a protest (Photo courtesy: Reuters)

New Delhi: Persisting with its displeasure over the extension of emergency in the Maldives, India said on Thursday it does not see a valid reason for the Maldivian parliament to do so and maintained that it continues to watch the situation in the island nation.

Yesterday, India had expressed "deep dismay" over the Maldivian parliament accepting President Abdulla Yameen's recommendation to extend the state of emergency by another 30 days in a manner New Delhi dubbed as a "matter of concern".

“We do not see any valid reason for doing so. We, of course, continue to watch the situation and would continue to urge the government of Maldives to release political prisoners, release the chief justice, implement the Supreme Court order and restore the normal functions of the institutions of democracy,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Kumar said that India’s sincere desire is to see that democracy in the Maldives is restored and the situation resumes to normal. This is also the desire of the people of Maldives, he added.

The declaration of emergency earlier this month in the archipelago, known for his turquoise waters and beaches, saw the nation plunging into a political crisis.

President Yameen declared emergency on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely-criticised trials. Among them, was exiled ex-president Mohamed Nasheed. The court said his trial was unconstitutional.

There has been international condemnation of the Maldivian government's moves, including the imposition of emergency.