Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, even as relations between the two nations have soured since the pro-China president assumed office in November last year. 

In a press release, the Indian High Commission in Maldives shared the prime minister’s Eid wishes for the president and the people of Maldives. 

“On the auspicious occasion of Eid Al-Adha, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India @NarendraModi extended warm greetings to His Excellency President of Maldives Dr. @MMuizzu, the Government & the people of the Republic of Maldives,” it said in a post on X.

On the auspicious occasion of Eid Al-Adha, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India 🇮🇳 @NarendraModi extended warm greetings to His Excellency President of Maldives Dr. @MMuizzu, the Government & the people of the Republic of Maldives 🇲🇻.

The full PR is here: 👇@IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/qG42iFwRfK

— India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) June 16, 2024

In his message, PM Modi “emphasised the values of sacrifice, compassion and brotherhood, embodied by this festival, which are essential in building a peaceful and inclusive world.”

“Prime Minister also highlighted the celebration of the festival, as part of India’s multi-cultural heritage, across the length and breadth of India with fervour and gaiety,” the message read.

Soon after being elected, Muizzu demanded a complete withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the archipelago. Amid increasing tensions, Indian tourists had announced a boycott of the island nation after three Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments about Prime Minister Modi following his visit to Lakshadweep.

But India extended an olive branch by inviting him to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Union Minister S Jaishankar also held a bilateral meeting with the Maldivian President while he was in New Delhi. “Delighted to call on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives today in New Delhi. Look forward to India and Maldives working together closely,” he had said on ‘X’.

VK Sasikala, confidante of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday dramatically said that it cannot be thought that the AIADMK is decimated in view of its recent electoral drubbing as her ‘entry has begun,’ and vowed to usher in Amma’s rule by winning the 2026 Assembly polls.

She also asserted that she would question the government as the ‘opposition party’ when Edappadi K Palaniswami did not ask the right questions, in his capacity as leader of opposition.

After her unsuccessful attempts over a considerable period of time to regain control of the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, Sasikala, addressing her supporters here, said the time is ripe for entry again.

“This is the time I have been telling you, there is no need for any concern,” she said, apparently referring to her stand of ‘unifying’ the party for which she also had toured several regions of the state.

“For sure, people of Tamil Nadu are on our side…. I am very strong… it cannot be thought that the AIADMK is finished and it is because, my entry (re-entry) has commenced,” she said amid rounds of applause.

With the support of cadres and people, ‘Amma’s’ regime will be ushered in by winning the 2026 Assembly polls. She said she will soon begin her state-wide tour and pose questions and the DMK government has to provide answers.

Sasikala, without naming anyone, said ‘caste based politics’ has made an entry into the party (AIADMK).

Bringing such caste based politics into the party nurtured by party founder MGR and late matriarch ‘Amma Jayalalithaa’ will not be tolerated by her and party workers. Had she had any caste based considerations, she would not have made Edappadi K Palaniswami as Chief Minister in 2017. He was made the Chief Minister considering representation to the western region of the state, which had all along stood by the party from the days of MGR.

Today, she said the party has been relegated to third and fourth positions in the recent LS polls and also had lost deposit in a number of seats.

It is obvious that her ‘caste based politics’ and the ‘poll debacle’ comments were aimed at Edappadi Palaniswami. In 2017, when she proposed Palaniswami for the post of Chief Minister she was the party’s interim general secretary, the number one position then following the death of Jayalalithaa in December 2016.

Speaking to reporters, answering a question, she said ‘boycott of Vikravandi bypoll is not correct under the present circumstances.’ The AIADMK and DMDK have boycotted the July 10 bypoll.

Targeting the ruling DMK regime over issues including procurement of buses, she said, “if the leader of the opposition (Edappadi Palaniswami) does not pose questions that he must ask, I am the opposition party, I am asking (those) questions.” She expressed confidence of bringing everyone together, unify the AIADMK and capture power in the state.

Former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his supporters were expelled by Edappadi Palaniswami, who later emerged as the single leader at the helm of the AIADMK.

Sasikala, her relatives including TTV Dhinakaran, who later founded the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, were among those who were eased out of the party years ago when Panneerselvam and Palaniswami remained together.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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