Why is it in news?

India is dismayed at Maldives move to extend the state of Emergency currently prevailing in the country.

Details

• Expressing its disappointment over the Maldives government’s decision to extend a state of Emergency for another month despite India’s strenuous objections, India issued another statement, calling the move unconstitutional, words that could lead to a face-off with the Yameen government.
• The Maldivian Ambassador to India, Mohamed Ahmed, denied the accusation that the move was unconstitutional.
• India has issued a series of statements of concern over the Maldives Emergency declared by President Yameen on February 5, after the Maldivian Supreme Court overturned the imprisonment of nine political rivals, including former President Mohamed Nasheed. Since then, the Yameen government has put more leaders in prison and arrested the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and other judges. India rejected an offer by President Yameen to send an envoy to explain the circumstances, saying that democracy must be restored first. In a significant move, the government allowed Mr. Nasheed to travel to India for a conference, where he called for India to compel Mr. Yameen to reverse the Emergency.
• However, India is yet to spell out what the consequences of not heeding its word will be to the government in Male.
• Meanwhile, in Washington, the U.S. State department also issued a statement of concern, while the European Union is expected to hold a meeting of senior Ministers soon to discuss the situation in the Maldives.

• The Maldives government on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days, before heavily armed troops stormed the country's Supreme Court and former President Maumoom Abdul Gayoom was arrested amid a spiraling political crisis that followed a surprise Supreme Court ruling last week.
• The Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of nine Opposition leaders, including exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed. The court also ordered that 12 MPs, expelled earlier, be reinstated. Emergency rule gives security officials extra powers to arrest dissidents, according to sources.
• Less than an hour after Mr. Yameen declared the state of emergency, troops stormed the Supreme Court premises, arresting judges.
• This is the second time Mr. Yameen has declared a state of emergency. He last took the step in November 2015 after an alleged attempt to assassinate him.
• Meanwhile, the opposition in Maldives has appealed to the global community for help.
• The government has come under criticism worldwide for its refusal to obey the court order and to unjustifiably extend emergency and straying away from the path of democracy and rule of law solely to consolidate power by undemocratic and unconstitutional means.

Source

The Hindu