Despite accepting an invitation to attend President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's swearing-in ceremony on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to send Earth Science Minister Kiran Rijiju in his place.
A senior official of the Indian High Commission in the Maldives told Adhadhu that the Science Minister would attend the ceremony as a special envoy of the Prime Minister.
Following the election victory of the Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition, which carried out several anti-India activities, the invitation for Indian Prime Minister Modi to attend the President-Elect's swearing-in ceremony was first announced by former Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.
But the President-Elect's Office said invitations were extended to nations and not to specific individuals.
The main reason Modi is unable to attend is the G20 Voice of Global South summit on the 17th. India is the current chair of the G20.
The summit will take place on November 17, according to remarks made by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Tuesday.
Only one head of state will attend Muizzu's swearing-in ceremony, Adhadhu has learned.
In his first address after the presidential election, Muizzu assured the public that he would expel Indian soldiers based in the Maldives.
He repeated the assertion in media interviews since then.
Relations with India severely deteriorated during the PPM-PNC's first government under former President Abdulla Yameen.
Closer ties were fostered with India's rival China, which provided loans and financial assistance to carry out infrastructure projects.
While the outgoing administration planned many projects with Indian loan assistance, the opposition conducted an "India Out" campaign calling for the removal of Indian soldiers in the Maldives.
But after the election, Muizzu said Indian soldiers cannot be removed through street protests and criticized the activities of his own coalition.
