The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s President Abdulla Shahid has welcomed the change in the foreign policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and called for a public apology for deceiving the people earlier.
Speaking to Adhadhu after his meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Saturday, Shahid said the "India Out" campaign was a divisive movement formed to deceive the people.
"MDP believes the 'India Out' campaign was a divisive and baseless campaign to deceive the people of Maldives. But after nine months, the government has accepted it and resumed building relations with India. MDP welcomes that," he said.
However, Shahid said the MDP calls on the government to apologize to the people for its deceptions and lies in the past.
MDP parliamentary group leader Hithadhoo Dhekunu MP Ibrahim Nazil, Vice President Hisaan Hussain, Youth Wing President Rifqa Shiham, Foreign Relations Committee Chairperson Aminath Shauna, Secretary General Shazly Shafeeq and former Henveiru Dhekunu MP Hussain Shaheem also participated in the meeting with Jaishankar on Saturday.
In a press release after the meeting, MDP thanked India for its assistance to the Maldives and congratulated for marking the completion of projects started during the tenure of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
MDP noted the adverse effects faced by Maldives due to the current government's actions towards India and said the party hopes India would remain Maldives' closest friend.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Jaishankar said he was pleased to meet the leaders of MDP.
