India urges Maldives to ensure early resumption of political process

Welcoming Maldives' decision of lifting the State of Emergency, India has urged Maldivian government to ensure early resumption of the political process.

Expressing its concern over the political situation in the Maldives, India has also called upon the Maldivian government to allow democratic institutions to work in a transparent manner.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "The political developments in the Maldives have been a matter of concern. We welcomed lifting the State of Emergency and called upon the Government of Maldives to ensure early resumption of the political process and allow democratic institutions including the judiciary to function independently in a fair and transparent manner."

"This will create a conducive environment for the smooth conduct of the elections in the Maldives later this year," he added.

In March, Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen lifted a 45-day state of emergency he imposed on February 5 after the island nation's Supreme Court reversed criminal convictions against nine of his opponents.

Earlier on June 14, India reiterated its advice to the Maldives to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners, including former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed.

Gayoom was sentenced to nineteen months of imprisonment after being found guilty of "obstructing justice" by not cooperating with the police investigation while Saeed was awarded nineteen months of jail term.

"It is important for the Government of the Maldives to ensure credible restoration of the political process, as well as the rule of law before the elections, are announced this year," the MEA had said in a statement then.