The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday repeated his "invade the Maldives" remark and said that in order to protect Indians in that country, "invasion is necessary" if upcoming Presidential elections in the island nation was rigged. However, Swamy clarified that these were his personal views and not of the government.
Speaking to the media, the BJP leader said: "Indian citizens in the Maldives cannot be ill-treated. All kinds of ugly notices have been put up there, and if on top of that they rig the elections, it is my opinion that India has the responsibility to protect the Indian citizens, for which an invasion is necessary."
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His remark on Maldives invasion seems to have triggered tension between New Delhi and Male as the Maldivian Foreign office had summoned Indian envoy Akhilesh Mishra over Swamy's remark to 'invade' the Malives. Sources confirmed that the Indian High Commissioner to Maldives was summoned, as reported in News18.
On August 22, Swamy took to his Twitter and raised the issue of alleged "gross" rigging in the upcoming Presidential elections in Maldives.
"In Colombo today I had a chance meet with Fmr Maldive President Naseed. He is apprehensive of gross rigging in their forthcoming election. India cannot allow that as a neighbour and also since current usurper President Yamin has humiliated Indians recently. We need an action plan," he had tweeted. "India should invade the Maldives if rigging of election takes place," he added.
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Following a huge backlash over Swamy's statement, the Ministry of External Affair issued a clarification on August 26, saying, "opinion expressed by Swamy in his tweet was personal and does not reflect the view of government".
(ANI)
