View From India | What’s happening in India-Maldives ties?
The HinduIndia-Maldives ties, which were already going through a rough patch, took a hit over the past week with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu asking New Delhi to withdraw its troops from the Indian Ocean island nation by March 15. Recently, a war of words erupted online, with some Ministers in Mr. Muizzu’s government posting controversial remarks on Prime Minister Modi. The previous Maldives government of President Ibrahim Solih had followed an ‘India First’ foreign policy, aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries that took a beating during the administration of Abdulla Yameen. Mr. Muizzu, who was the then Opposition’s joint candidate, rode the wave of this anti-India sentiments in the Indian Ocean country, which lies just 300 nautical miles from the Indian mainland. Even as India stands assured of continuity in its good bilateral ties with Bangladesh, it cannot ignore its loss of influence in the Awami League and western criticism of the controversial elections, writes Subir Bhaumik Indian workers heading to Israel not eligible for protections under government’s ‘e-migrate’ portal; must pay for their own travel, accommodation, insurance; Ministries pass the buck on workers’ safety in conflict zone, report Suhasini Haidar and A.M. Jigeesh.