Windjammer
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NEW DELHI: While India's relations with the Maldives are about to take a nosedive as a result of the Waheed government's decision against Indian infrastructure major GMR, New Delhi is concerned that "many other interests" may be at work in the Indian Ocean nation that could have prompted such a decision.
Sources here said the "climate" created in the Maldives, which prompted a "victory rally" after the termination notice was announced was of immediate concern. It showed a deliberate fanning of anti-India sentiments that could have other more disturbing implications. It appears to be accompanied by a rise in radical Islamist sentiments, and seems to be directed against India.
Instead, China seems to have established itself as an attractive alternative to India. The radical Islamic party Adhaalath tweeted on Thursday, "We would rather give the airport contract to our friends in China, who now make the majority of our tourist population." The tweets went on to say that Maldives as a tourist destination was beyond the reach of Indians but affordable for the Chinese. Describing China as a growing superpower, the party, tweeting under the handle, "Adhaalath" says, "With China already based in Seashells (sic), the addition of Maldives as a friend would be a massive blow to future Indian power in this region.... India would lose her reliance on our strategic location and global trade routes. We will seek the assistance of China in this endeavor."
Sources refrained from naming any country as playing in the Maldives' muddy waters, but this suspicion has taken root, which would have implications for the future of bilateral ties with this tiny nation.
It's becoming clear that the Maldives' decision had more to do with political exigencies than legal issues. The airport development charges (ADC) which are at the heart of the problem between GMR and the Maldives government have been around for a while. The statement from Male on Wednesday said their process was on for nine months.
Indian sources said foreign minister Salman Khurshid had suggested to his counterpart, Abdul Samad Abdulla, who visited here last week that New Delhi would get in a neutral international expert to iron out the differences between the Maldives and GMR. But the suggestion fell on deaf ears.
The GMR-airport row was one of the triggers of Nasheed's ouster in February. Logically, this ought to have been resolved by now. But sources here said India had all along been told by the Maldives government that the GMR issue was a "legal" affair. Yet there are strong political overtones, which are evident now, they said.
India was once again caught off guard by the Maldives' decision, just as it had been by the February 7 ouster. Now as then, India's high commissioner, D N Mulay has been under sustained attack, but the government has maintained its support of its chief diplomat there.
Anti-India sentiments behind Maldives' termination of GMR contract? - The Times of India
Sources here said the "climate" created in the Maldives, which prompted a "victory rally" after the termination notice was announced was of immediate concern. It showed a deliberate fanning of anti-India sentiments that could have other more disturbing implications. It appears to be accompanied by a rise in radical Islamist sentiments, and seems to be directed against India.
Instead, China seems to have established itself as an attractive alternative to India. The radical Islamic party Adhaalath tweeted on Thursday, "We would rather give the airport contract to our friends in China, who now make the majority of our tourist population." The tweets went on to say that Maldives as a tourist destination was beyond the reach of Indians but affordable for the Chinese. Describing China as a growing superpower, the party, tweeting under the handle, "Adhaalath" says, "With China already based in Seashells (sic), the addition of Maldives as a friend would be a massive blow to future Indian power in this region.... India would lose her reliance on our strategic location and global trade routes. We will seek the assistance of China in this endeavor."
Sources refrained from naming any country as playing in the Maldives' muddy waters, but this suspicion has taken root, which would have implications for the future of bilateral ties with this tiny nation.
It's becoming clear that the Maldives' decision had more to do with political exigencies than legal issues. The airport development charges (ADC) which are at the heart of the problem between GMR and the Maldives government have been around for a while. The statement from Male on Wednesday said their process was on for nine months.
Indian sources said foreign minister Salman Khurshid had suggested to his counterpart, Abdul Samad Abdulla, who visited here last week that New Delhi would get in a neutral international expert to iron out the differences between the Maldives and GMR. But the suggestion fell on deaf ears.
The GMR-airport row was one of the triggers of Nasheed's ouster in February. Logically, this ought to have been resolved by now. But sources here said India had all along been told by the Maldives government that the GMR issue was a "legal" affair. Yet there are strong political overtones, which are evident now, they said.
India was once again caught off guard by the Maldives' decision, just as it had been by the February 7 ouster. Now as then, India's high commissioner, D N Mulay has been under sustained attack, but the government has maintained its support of its chief diplomat there.
Anti-India sentiments behind Maldives' termination of GMR contract? - The Times of India
