The Maldivian government has for the first time denied the report published by the American newspaper Washington Post, which claimed that the opposition MDP sought help from Indian RAW agents to obtain six million dollars (92 million rufiyaa) to overthrow President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government.
In an interview with the Indian newspaper “Wion,” when asked about his view on the Washington Post report, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel said he had a very short answer to that.
“A very short answer to that is that these are completely untrue, baseless stories. There is no truth to it at all,” Dr. Khaleel said.
The Washington Post report stated that discussions about changing the government with a group from MDP began in January. The report also mentioned that an agent from India’s Foreign Intelligence Agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was consulting with opposition MDP leaders.
A paper prepared under the name “Democratic Renewal Initiative” proposed bribing 40 members of the 19th People’s Majlis to pass a no-confidence vote against President Dr. Muizzu. It also suggested bribing members of PPM/PNC. To ensure President Muizzu’s removal from office, the document also proposed paying 10 senior officers from the military and police, and three powerful gangs. “The plan was to pay various parties, with a price tag of six million dollars. According to two Maldivian officials, this was to come from India,” the Washington Post report said.
The Washington Post reported that the MDP’s plan failed when 11 MDP members of the People’s Majlis signed for PNC. It stated that these members were brought to PNC as a quick measure taken by President Dr. Muizzu after receiving information about the plans to remove him from office.
