India saved the Government of Mohamed Muizzu in the Maldives

A report has alleged that Maldivian opposition politicians planned to impeach President Mohamed Muizzu by bribing MPs and enlisting criminal gangs, seeking USD 6 million reportedly from India

Male (Maldives) – Politicians from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) allegedly sought USD 6 million (Rs 51,00,36,000) from India in a plot to impeach Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu earlier this year, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Monday. The report, however, went on to add that the plan did not materialise. However, India had rejected this demand. In January 2024 itself, relations between India and Maldives were strained when some MPs of the ruling party made baseless allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

🌴 🇲🇻Maldives Political Crisis: 🇮🇳 India steps in to support Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s government.

💰 Claim by Washington Post: Opposition MPs in Maldives allegedly sought $6,000,000 from India to overthrow the government.pic.twitter.com/etAuQpSKte

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 1, 2025

1. The report, based on an internal document titled ‘Democratic Renewal Initiative’, revealed detailed plans to bribe as many as 40 members of the Maldivian Parliament, including some from Muizzu’s own party, to secure the votes needed for his impeachment.

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed denied having knowledge of such a plot against Muizzu and said India would never back such a move.

2. The document, which the US daily claimed to have accessed, also included plans to pay several senior military and police officials and enlist the assistance of three influential criminal gangs in the country to ensure Muizzu’s ouster from the President’s office.

“In an internal document titled ‘Democratic Renewal Initiative’ obtained by The Washington Post, Maldivian opposition politicians proposed bribing 40 members of parliament, including those from Muizzu’s own party (People’s National Congress), to vote to impeach him,” the report said.

As per the document, by January 2024, individuals linked to India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RA&W), began discreet discussions with Maldivian opposition leaders to explore the possibility of removing Muizzu. Within weeks, a plan emerged, but despite months of covert talks, the idea failed to gather enough parliamentary support to execute the impeachment, the report claimed.

3. Reacting to the US daily report, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed also said that India had never dictated terms to the Opposition in Maldives.

“I read with interest today’s @washingtonpost article. I was unaware of any serious plot against the President; tho some people always live in conspiracy. India would never back such a move, as they always support Maldives’s democracy. India has never dictated terms to us, either,” Nasheed said in a tweet.