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Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 17
Warm handshakes, hugs and smiles today marked a new chapter in ties after months of bitterness between India and Maldives as Prime Minister Modi attended the oath-taking ceremony of Ibrahim Solih as the new President of the archipelago nation.
This was Modi’s maiden visit to the only South Asian neighbouring country he had stayed away from since assuming office in 2014 owing to internal political turmoil in the island nation.
Dr Manmohan Singh was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Maldives for the SAARC summit in 2011.
Modi was the highest-ranking foreign leader in the gathering at the National Football Stadium in Male attended by ministers, officials and diplomats from several other foreign countries, including the Chinese Culture Minister.
“Congratulations to Mr @ibusolih on taking oath as the President of the Maldives. Wishing him the very best for his tenure ahead. Looking forward to working with him to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations,” wrote the PM on Twitter.
Fifty-four-year-old Solih, after the swearing-in ceremony against a backdrop resembling the Majlis or the Maldivian parliament, announced in his public remarks that he would hold a special meeting with Modi soon afterwards in his first official engagement as President.
“We will strengthen bilateral relations with India and other neighbouring countries...will work to ensure stability of Indian Ocean,” said Solih.
Three former Presidents Gayoom, Nasheed and Dr Waheed attended the ceremony, while Solih’s predecessor — the controversial pro-China Abdulla Yameen — boycotted it.
“As I assume office, billions of Rufiyaa are missing from the state. We do not even know the exact amount missing. We need foreign assistance in recovering these funds,” added the new President.
The country’s economy was discussed in the brief meeting between Solih and Modi held afterwards.
Indian assistance to Maldives and the “pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development” as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands were mentioned by Solih.
“During their meeting, both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other’s concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region,” said the statement, further adding that the top leaders “expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism”.
Solih is expected to undertake a state visit to India in the next few weeks while Modi is likely to pay a full bilateral visit in early 2019.
Back to bonhomie
The two leaders, while noting the resilience of the relations between India and the Maldives, expressed confidence in the renewal of the close bonds of cooperation and friendship with the election of Solih as the President of the Maldives— India-Maldives joint statement
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