“This too shall pass” seems to be New Delhi’s unstated reaction to the Maldives’ President-elect Mohamed Muizzu’s assertion that he will start the process of removing “Indian troops” from the archipelago no sooner he takes charge on 17 November.
Within days of Muizzu announcing his plans to hurriedly implement his election promise, External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Arindam Bagchi, was asked by reporters at the weekly press briefing to respond to Muizzu’s provocative stand on Indian troops.
Bagchi, however, took no cognizance of the pointed question and instead dwelt on India’s long-standing partnership with the Maldives, and flagged how Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the “first leader” to congratulate Muizzu on his victory.
But, obviously, all’s not well on India’s Maldives front after Muizzu, who captured power largely due to his “India Out” campaign, said at the very first public rally organised to celebrate his victory that as the “sovereignty” and “independence” of the Maldives are of paramount importance, “the people don’t want Indian troops to stay in the Maldives and they cannot be here against our sentiments and against our will.”