The “Progressive Coalition” has announced that a vote of no confidence against the Minister of Defense, Uz. Mariya Ahmed Didi, has been proposed at Parliament. The Progressive Coalition consists of members of two opposition parties - the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Majority leader at Parliament, Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik said this at a press conference held by the “Progressive Coalition” today. He said that the vote of no confidence against the Minister of Defense has been submitted at Parliament with signatures of PPM and PNC Parliamentary members.

MP Nihan said that the cause for this proposal for vote of no confidence against the Minister of Defense was due to her words regarding India-Maldives Defense ties. He said that Mariya had spoken in India during an official visit, in a manner that threatens the security of Maldives. Nihan reiterated that the words of Minister Mariya has spread fear in the hearts of Maldivians.

The Majority leader at Parliament noted that the Minister of Defense had said to a foreign media that India can take over Maldives if it so wished. Niham said that while what the Minister Mariya  said is true, these are not words that should be said by someone in the position of this country’s Minister of Defense.

He said that Defense Minister Mariya had belittled Maldives to Indian media while at India’s capital city, New Delhi. Nihan reiterated that the Defense Minister’s words depicted Maldives in an irrelevant light and added that this is against the vows of her position.

The interim leader of PPM said that Minister Mariya’s words are against the rules and mandate of her position as the Defense Minister. He said that her words have no only threatened the defense and security of this country, but it has also violated the initial clause of the Article 4 of the country’s Constitution.

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) had previously announced that they will be moving to propose a vote of no confidence against Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi. Minister Mariya had said on an official visit to India that India is capable of taking over Maldives, if India wished to do so.