India planning grand welcome for Maldives President amid tensions
PTC Web Desk: New Delhi will host a lavish welcome for all South Asian leaders attending Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. Narendra Modi will take the oath of office for a record third term on Sunday, with several heads of state in attendance, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Before his arrival in Delhi, a large banner featuring both PM Modi and Muizzu has been up outside the Foreign Ministry.
Relations between India and the Maldives have worsened since Muizzu took office in November last year. Throughout his election campaign, he frequently attacked India and demanded the complete removal of Indian military soldiers. All of India's military forces have left, and civilians have taken their place. However, India extended an olive branch, inviting him to PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony. President Muizzu thanked PM Modi for the invitation, saying he would be pleased to attend this historic event.
According to an official release, "He also stated that he looks forward to working with the Prime Minister to further strengthen the close relations with India, noting that Maldives-India relations are heading in the positive direction, as would be demonstrated by this visit."
This will be the pro-China president's first official visit to India since taking office on November 17, last year. Unlike his predecessors, who made a start in New Delhi after taking office, Muizzu flew to Turkey first, then to China for his first state visit in January.
- PTC NEWS
