Ex-VP Jameel says MP Nihan's visa refusal is result of own anti-India speech

Former Vice President Mohamed Jameel has said that India refusing entry to pro-government MP Ahmed Nihan is ‘sad’ but is the expected result of his rhetoric against the country.

The now pro-opposition politician said in a tweet on Wednesday night that MP Nihan has continuously bashed India and spread lies about the nation, adding that such a thing happening to any Maldivian is disappointing.

Jameel’s tweet translates to, ‘this is the result of bashing India, one of our closest neighbours, and continuously spreading lies about the country – a sad this to see happen to any Maldivian, truly disappointing’.

Jameel is the leader of the Maldives United Opposition, a coalition of the Maldives Democratic Party and former senior officials of the government, now estranged from incumbent President Abdulla Yameen, including Jameel's own successor former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb. Adeeb replaced Jameel after he was controversially voted out through parliament.

MP Nihan was seized, questioned, and detained for hours at an Indian airport, reportedly by immigration officers. Nihan said he had been ‘bullied’ for his political allegiances and claimed that officials asked him which party he belonged to before detaining him for over some four hours.

In interviews to local media, Nihan responded to it with ferocity claiming that the move is disappointing and that he is entitled to have been informed of any sort of restriction. Newspapers have quoted the ruling party parliamentary group leader as having said he would have the ‘matter investigated’.