‘Frosty’ New Delhi-Male ties: Maldivian MP sent back from Chennai

New Delhi, June 6
In what could add to the existing tensions between India and the Maldives, a member of parliament of the Yameen government in Male was sent back from the Chennai immigration.
The Tribune has learnt that MP Ahmed Nihan, majority leader and parliamentary group leader of the ruling party in the island nation, flew to Chennai via Colombo on June 4 at around 10 pm.
Maldivian sources claim Nihan has been travelling to India twice every year for medical check-up for the past two years. It is for the first time that the Majlis member was denied entry with no official reasons cited.
“It is very unfortunate that this has happened. We have not been provided any reasons by the authorities,” said Maldivian Ambassador Ahmed Mohamed speaking to the Tribune.
According to sources, the Maldivian embassy tried reaching out to the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday night after the immigration authorities refused entry to Nihan despite his credentials.
The matter has also been raised by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry with Indian High Commissioner Akhilesh Mishra and a response is awaited.
Back in Male, Nihan posted the matter on his official twitter handle @ahmed_nihan in Dhivehi, asking journalists enquiring about it to meet him for details later in the evening.
The relations between India and the Maldives soured earlier this year when President Yameen clamped down an emergency citing internal security concerns. The Maldives had stayed away from the regional naval exercise as well as the Defence Expo earlier citing the emergency situation.
However, the two countries resumed and concluded the monthly joint exclusive economic zone (EEZ) patrolling last month.
The Maldives is hoping that in return for the two Indian Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) whose agreement has expired and which will be returned this month, New Delhi will provide a surveillance Dornier aircraft to Male by year-end.