Maldivian High Commissioner to India Mohamed Naseer was on Friday
morning summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to give ‘a ticking
off’ on Male’s arbitrary termination of the contract awarded to GMR group to
operate the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.
It has been learnt that Naseer had been summoned to the MEA for an audience
with Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai.
According to sources, Mathai expressed New Delhi’s deep regret at the
“unilateral” move by Male in declaring the agreement with the Indian
infrastructure giant void. And the top Indian diplomat is said to have warned
the Maldivian envoy that Male’s decision will have a negative impact on the
bilateral ties between the long-time allies.
Mathai is also said to have pointed out that the move was contrary to
the assurances given by President Mohammed Waheed to Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh during his state visit to India in May.
The Foreign Secretary is also believed to have told the Maldivian
envoy to ensure that the legal process should be allowed “to run its course”, a
reference to the case filed by GMR in the Singapore High Court, in which it had
sought an immediate temporary order against the annulment. Incidentally, the
next hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.
Waheed’s Poll Card
On Thursday, Indian High Commissioner to Male, D M Mulay had
been invited by Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdullah to his office for a
friendly ‘chat’, where the Waheed Government’s argument that the action against
GMR was a purely commercial decision was again trotted out. India is,
obviously, not accepting this argument, with sources reiterating that the
campaign against GMR has been used by President Waheed to shore up his
popularity in time for the Presidential election, which could take place as
early as in July 2013.
Waheed’s party only has a single seat in the Majlis, with opinion
polls indicating that he has support from about 10 per cent of the population.
Former president and MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed still has the biggest chunk of
support of around 40 per cent, with the former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of
PPM having around 25-30 per cent.
With the platform of booting out GMR, Waheed could be trying to increase
his popularity, so that he can run Gayoom head-to-head, and possibly have a
direct contest with Nasheed for the Presidency.
“He has nothing to lose by doing this. At worst, he will not win the
election, but then he was an accidental President in the first place,” said a
senior official.
Meanwhile, the archipelago’s fringe parties like the Islamist Adhalaath
and the Dhivehi Qaumee Party have been leading the campaign, with incendiary
messages and posters being circulated against GMR, India and the Indian High
Commission.
Septuagenarian Gayoom, who is known to be a shrewd operator, has so far
kept quiet. But, observers feel that he wouldn’t be too unhappy at the turn of
events. “Waheed gets all the blame for the axing of contract. But, Gayoom also
wanted to see GMR go, which had become identified with the MDP,” he
said.
When the contract had been signed in 2010 by the Nasheed government, the
entire Opposition had protested against the move.
So far, the Waheed government is looking to stay afloat till the time
the country goes to the polls.
“The government seems to be confident that it can ride it out by getting
funding from Maldivian companies, who share anti-GMR sentiments. They have also
recently floated Treasury Bills,” he said, adding that there could be a move to
give concession to the Gaan Airport in Addu.
Incidentally, even India is looking forward to the Presidential election
in Male, with the possibility of GMR returning to the island nation when the
political situation becomes stable.
http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article1362024.ece
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