President Mohamed Muizzu did not mention the assistance and support provided by the Indian government and its military in thwarting the November 3, 1988, terrorist attack on Male' by a Sri Lankan militant group and a group of Maldivians.
Victory Day is celebrated on November 3 every year to commemorate the foiled coup attempt. At least 19 people were martyred in the attacks, including eight soldiers.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom sought Indian assistance to save the country from the terrorist attack. Indian troops immediately arrived in the Maldives, sank the terrorists' vessel and rescued the hostages.
Gayoom previously described India's assistance as a debt owed by the Maldives.
"I must first mention the name of our neighbour, our friend, India, who responded to our request that day and provided us with military assistance. We owe a great debt to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, his government and the people of India," he said on Victory Day in 1989.
"If we hadn't received help from that country so quickly that day, we would have faced more dangers."
An Indian military jet and Indian soldiers in Maldives on November 3, 1988.
He said it was "a very noble duty" to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who came to save the Maldives from terrorists.
“On behalf of the Government of Maldives, the people of Maldives, and on my own behalf, I would like to thank the Indian Army for their valuable services in safeguarding Maldives' independence and sovereignty,” Gayoom said.
The assistance provided by India on that day proved to be a perfect example of friendship between two friendly countries, he said.
All the Presidents who have ruled the Maldives since Gayoom, except Muizzu, have maintained the tradition of thanking India for its assistance on November 3, 1988.
Muizzu came to power with false claims about thousands of Indian troops stationed in the Maldives and a promise to ensure their withdrawal.
But these claims have been proven untrue. He replaced uniformed Indian soldiers with members from an Indian military company. They remain in the Maldives to operate military helicopters and a Dornier aircraft for humanitarian purposes.
