Ex-Maldives president rejects report claiming India's hand in plot to remove Muizzu

Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed has dismissed a report by The Washington Post which alleged that opposition politicians in the island nation sought financial aid from India to plot against President Mohammed Muizzu.

Nasheed, who heads Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and is the country’s largest opposition party, asserted that India would never back such a move or dictate terms to the country.

In a post on X, Nasheed said that he was unaware of any such plan and accused some people of "living in conspiracy".

“I read with interest today's Washington Post article. I was unaware of any serious plot against the President, though some people always live in conspiracy. India would never back such a move, as they always support Maldives' democracy. India has never dictated terms to us, either,” he said.

The report by The Washington Post, titled "A plot in paradise and India’s struggle for influence in Asia", cited an internal document "Democratic Renewal Initiative" and claimed that opposition leaders in Maldives had planned to bribe 40 members of the Maldivian parliament, including lawmakers from Muizzu’s own party, to vote for his impeachment.