"This time there is no 'India Out' component; instead, it is 'India Oil, Please'"

MDP President Abdulla Shahid has criticized the government, stating that a nation must maintain a sense of character and consistency. He remarked that after coming to power on the back of the "India Out" campaign, the administration's stance has now shifted from "India Out" to "India Oil, Please."

Speaking at a campaign rally in L. Maavah during a tour of the atolls with the party leadership, MDP President Abdulla Shahid stated that while government officials previously claimed they could secure an unlimited oil supply from Oman, they have now been forced to seek assistance from India. Shahid highlighted that this shift in stance serves as further evidence of the current administration's incompetence.

India once again. This time, the "Out" component is absent; instead, the plea is "India Oil, Please." We are a sovereign nation and must maintain a sense of dignity and principle. There must be some level of consistency and character in our conduct. We should not be stripping ourselves of our national pride and exposing ourselves so recklessly before foreign nations.

Abdulla Shahid

Furthermore, Shahid stated that it is a matter of deep shame for this administration that, after standing before a "thick red line" and hurling insults at the Maldives' neighbors, they have now been forced to plead with India just to secure a supply of fuel. He also emphasized the vital importance of maintaining strong relations with neighboring countries.

Shahid stated that the current administration is obligated to provide accurate information to the public, noting that citizens now find it difficult to believe previous assurances that the Maldives would not face fuel shortages.