Male: Days before the deadline set for the withdrawal of the first batch of Indian military personnel, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has said that no Indian military personnel, whether in uniform or “civilian clothing”, will be present in the island country after May 10.
“There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence,” Muizzu said, according to a Maldives news portal.
He was responding to the Opposition’s criticism that the Indian technical personnel who are replacing the military personnel are military personnel without their uniform. According to the report, while addressing the residential community of Eydhafushi during his tour across Baa Atoll, Muizzu said: “That these people (Indian military) are not departing, that they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing… We must not indulge such thoughts that instill doubts in our hearts and spread lies.”
Muizzu’s statement comes days after the first team of Indian technical personnel reached the Maldives to take charge of one of the three aviation platforms stationed in the country. They will replace Indian military personnel, whose first batch is required to leave Maldives by March 10.
