Two Modi critics resign from Maldives government; President Muizzu is to visit India soon

NEW DELHI: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is likely to visit India "very soon", his office announced Tuesday. The two sides are looking to finalise a "feasible" date for what will be Muizzu's first official visit to India since he took over as President in Nov, 2023.

The announcement came on a day two junior ministers who had made derogatory remarks about PM Modi resigned from govt. The ministers had been suspended earlier.

The visit will come on the back of the recent thaw in bilateral ties that saw Muizzu attending PM Narendra Modi's swearing-in for his third term in June this year and external affairs minister S Jaishankar visiting Male last month.

Considered pro-China, Muizzu's decision last year as President to seek immediate withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the archipelago country had threatened to derail the relationship but things have improved since India replaced the military staff with civilian employees of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Heena Waleed, the chief spokesperson at the President's Office, announced Muizzu's visit on a day when two junior ministers, suspended in Jan for derogatory comments against PM Narendra Modi - resigned from govt. She said that while the exact date for the trip is yet to be finalised, the two sides are discussing a date, which is of convenience to the leaders of both countries, Sun Online news portal reported.

"The President is scheduled to visit India very soon. Such trips are scheduled for a time of maximum convenience to leaders of the two countries. Discussions regarding this are in progress," she said during a press conference.

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