Maldives bans ‘India Out’ campaign

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Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has issued an order banning the 'India Out' campaign led by former President Abdulla Yameen, terming it a "threat to national security".

• Maldivian protesters recently called on the Solih administration to 'stop selling national assets to foreigners', which means India.

• The 'India Out' campaign in Maldives started as a ground protest in Maldives last year.

• The protest later spread widely on social media platforms under the same hashtag.

• The protest is not related to people-to-people conflict i.e., Indian diaspora but is discontent on close relationship between Maldives & India.

• Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who became President in 2018, has been instrumental in restoring Maldives' close ties with India.

• Causes of protest

• political instability

• Confidential agreements between the Ibrahim Solih government and India 

• Indian diplomats posted in Maldives accused of interfering in domestic affairs.

• Two Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALF) were delivered by India to Maldives for sea search and rescue operations. 

• The opposition tried to portray it as India's military presence in the country.

• India-Maldives Relations

• India and Maldives are neighbouring countries and share maritime borders.

• After the independence of Maldives from British rule in 1966, India and Maldives established diplomatic relations.

• India was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Maldives.

• Since then, India and Maldives have developed close  military, strategic, cultural and economic ties.