Waheed meets PM; India assures strong support to Maldives

New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) Assuring strong support, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hoped all shades of political opinion in Maldives would get together to find a way forward as President Mohamed Waheed expressed to him his deep commitment to democracy and conduct of elections. Waheed, who is on his first foreign visit since assuming power in a tumultuous political transition in February, held wide-ranging talks with Singh during which he briefed him on the current political situation in his country, official sources said here. The President also briefed Singh on the issues related to the National Commission of Inquiry (NCI) set up by Maldives government to look into what had transpired on 7th February, 2012, when Waheed took over following Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation, which the latter subsequently claimed had been done under duress. During the meeting, Singh assured Waheed of continued "strong Indian support" for the development of Maldives and said "peace and stability" in Maldives is important to India, the sources said. Reiterating commitment to long-standing friendship with India, Waheed emphasised continued adherence to all agreements, the sources said, adding he also thanked India for its support. Waheed said Maldives looked to experience and example of India in learning democratic governance. President Waheed is also expected to meet businessmen during his five-day visit to seek Indian investment in Maldives. Earlier in the day External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had called on President Waheed and discussed various aspects of bilateral relations. Waheed's visit comes barely three weeks after his political rival and predecessor Nasheed, who came here to drum up support for his call for early presidential polls in the Maldives. PTI