India has strongly rejected a report by The Washington Post linking the country to a failed plot to impeach Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the claims, accusing the newspaper of harbouring a "compulsive hostility" towards India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during his weekly briefing, criticised both the newspaper and the reporter behind the story. He suggested that the report was part of a broader pattern of bias against India.
Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that The Washington Post lacked credibility in this matter, pointing out that the claims in the report should not be taken seriously.
The report, which was based on an internal document called the Democratic Renewal Initiative, alleged that the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had sought $6 million from India to orchestrate Muizzu's impeachment.
The plan reportedly involved bribing around 40 Members of Parliament, including some from Muizzu's own party, to secure votes for the impeachment motion. However, the plot was unsuccessful and failed to materialise.
This news comes amid a period of tension in the Maldives-India relationship. Some members of Muizzu's Cabinet have made derogatory remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, further straining ties.
Muizzu's election was based on an "India Out" campaign, which included calls for the withdrawal of Indian troops from the country.
The MEA also addressed another Washington Post report, which accused India of conducting covert assassination campaigns in Pakistan. Jaiswal did not elaborate on the details of the allegations but referred to a remark made by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In 2011, during her visit to Pakistan, Clinton stated, "You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbours," referring to Pakistan's handling of terrorist groups within its borders. Jaiswal's reference underscored India's position on the matter without engaging in further specifics.
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