President of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed resigned on 7 February 2012 after weeks of protest. The protest was against his decision to sack a judge he had accused of favouring the opposition. Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan was sworn in as President, following Nasheed’s resignation. It is alleged that police officers sided with anti-government demonstrators.
In January 2012, Nasheed ordered the army to arrest Criminal Court Chief Justice Abdulla Mohamed. The government accused the judge of giving politically motivated ruling, which was biased in favour of the opposition. To ease the political crisis, Nasheed's government appealed to the United Nations to mediate, which was scheduled on 9 February 2012.
Nasheed was elected in 2008 when Maldives held its first democratic election, following three decades of rule by autocratic leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Nasheed was a former political prisoner and human rights activist.
Maldives is a popular destination for tourists. However, the island nation is facing problems like Islamic fundamentalism, high unemployment among young people and drug abuse.
The political turmoil in Maldives cannot be ignored. The stability in the Maldives is crucial for India due to the archipelago’s strategic location on important sea-lanes. India must play its part but cautiously. India has a long history of close ties with the Maldives. Maldives had sought and received help from India to avert coup attempt in 1988.
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