New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Maldives opposition leader Ahmed Naseem on Thursday sought India's active role in "bringing back the democracy" of his Indian Ocean country "on track".
Naseem, former Foreign Minister in Mohamed Nasheed's government and the United Opposition's leader, sought "more active Indian role in bringing back Maldives' democracy on track" and said that "India can play much bigger role in Maldives."
"It (India) should not allow fatigue to set in," Naseem said here in an interaction at the Observer Research Foundation.
Naseem also accused Maldvies President Abdulla Yameen of "intending to make the Maldives an authoritarian state".
"The only way for the Maldives to return to constitutional government, for freedom to be respected and democracy to be upheld, is through the removal of President Yameen from office", according to an ORF statement.
Naseem said at a time when the Indian Ocean is rapidly emerging as a key focus of international politics and trade, "it is highly deplorable that the Maldives has become dangerous, untrustworthy and a failing state in the midst of it".
He also criticised Yameen's "haphazard" policy of attempting to balance priorities between India and China, saying it is "undesirable, untenable and unwarranted".
Other opposition leaders, including former Minister of Defence and National Security Abdullah Ameen said, "For the safety and security of the region, we look for the support of India to rectify the course of Maldives.
The delegates urged India to support the "hard work of the Maldivians to bring back democracy to the Maldives".
