India asks political parties in Maldives to exercise restraint

New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) India today asked all Maldivian political parties to exercise restraint and to continue discussions to find a peaceful and viable solution as agreed under the roadmap. Asked about the developments in Maldives that witnessed fresh violence yesterday, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin "urged all parties to maintain calm and to exercise restraint". The Maldivian parliament witnessed unruly scenes yesterday as lawmakers belonging to former President Mohammed Nasheed's MDP prevented President Mohamed Waheed from delivering the customary opening address and blocked Speaker Abdulla Shahid from entering the chamber. There was also violence outside the Majlis as MDP supporters clashed with the police. The MEA spokesperson "encouraged them to exercise their responsibilities to the Maldivian people and to continue necessary discussions under the All Party Consultative Committee and the People's Majlis (parliament) to find a peaceful and viable solution as agreed under the Roadmap." Akbaruddin reiterated India's position that this was an internal matter of the Maldives, to be resolved by Maldivians in a peaceful and democratic manner. India, he said, "stood ready to assist the government and people of Maldives in any manner necessary". Yesterday's protests came a day after Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai ended his two-day visit during which he held talks with various stakeholders to hammer out a solution to the political crisis. India had helped broker a deal under which President Waheed agreed to a roadmap for elections ahead of the scheduled November 2013 date. No dates have been announced for elections in the island nation, where Nasheed was voted to power 2008 as their first democratically elected president ending over 30 years of reign of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. PTI