Maldives on a collision course with India

Maldives on a collision course with India

Context:

• When India had sent a message asking the government not to extend the state of emergency, the Maldives has set for a collision course with India, as a parliamentary committee voted to extend the state of emergency by 30 days, defying India’s expectation.

Emergency rule defying the Supreme Court order:

• Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, the president of yameen had declared emergency rule on February 5, for 15 days, after defying the Supreme Court order.
• The Opposition termed the move illegal.

Illegal Extension of state of emergency:

• The government can’t extend the state of emergency legally, because it does not have the 43 legislators in the Majlis (Parliament) that must vote in favour of it.
• The Constitution states that 43 MPs must be present during a vote on a matter of public compliance and a state of emergency is a matter of public compliance.

Implement SC ruling:

• India is yet to indicate its strategy in responding to the ongoing political and constitutional crisis in its neighbourhood.
• India has reiterated its position and urged Male to implement the SC ruling.

Way ahead:

• It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law.