Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether a key Presidential aide of Maldives made intemperate anti-India remakes recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has raised this matter with the Maldivian Government; and

(d) if so, the reaction of the Maldivian Government to the same ?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR

(a) & (b) During a public meeting in Male on 09 November 2012 against the GMR Male’ International Airport Project, the then official spokesperson of the President of Maldives Mr. Abbas Adil Riza is reported to have made certain remarks against the High Commissioner of India in Maldives.

(c) & (d) The Government of India had taken up the matter strongly with the Government of Maldives both through the office of the President of Maldives as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives. The office of the President of Maldives released a statement on 10 November 2012 disassociating itself from the “regrettable” remarks made by the then official Spokesperson of President against the Indian High Commissioner. The major political parties in the Maldives condemned the remarks made against the High Commissioner of India in Maldives.

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