Male, March 21 (newsin.asia): The Maldives government on Tuesday refuted local media reports saying that the Indian Embassy has suspended the issue of visas to Maldivians who want to travel to India for purposes other than tourism.
“Following media reports claiming a suspension on issuing visas for Maldivians travelling to India for purposes other than tourism, MFA has received confirmation from the Indian Embassy in Malé that there has been no change in visa policy by the government of India,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted.
Tensions between the two once friendly neighbors have been at an all time low since the island nation was plunged into fresh political turmoil after the government failed to obey the Supreme Court order of February 1 for the immediate release of jailed political leaders including self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed.
On February 5, President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15 day state of emergency after his last ditch attempt to convince the top court to revoke the order failed, purged the Supreme Court by arresting two judges and the remaining political leaders and ultimately had the order revoked.
As the State of Emergency expired, President Yameen got parliament to extend it by another 30 days.
Less than a day after the arrest of the two judges, the remaining three judges rescinded the February 1 ruling to release the political leaders referring to the concerns raised by President Yameen in the letters he had sent to the Chief Justice hours before State of Emergency was declared.
(The featured picture at the top is that of the Indian Embassy in Male, Maldives)
