Maldives' China Policy a security threat for India: Maldivian leader

New Delhi, Jul 10 (UNI) Presidential candidate of the Opposition Democratic Party in the Maldives, Mohammed Nasheed today charged his country's President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom with disturbing balance of power in the Indian Ocean region by wooing China and sought India's help to ensure free and fair election in his country.

Participating in an interaction at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a think tank, Mr Nasheed, who is leading a delegation of his party members on a visit here, said the ''dictactorship'' of Mr Gayoom was creating security threat for India with China wooing policy and Islamisation of society.

Criticising the increasing Chinese influence in the Maldives, Mr Nasheed said his party would ''throw out'' Chinese bases, if any, from his country.

Mr Gayoom's Presidential term is ending on November 11 and elections are scheduled in or before October.

Mr Nasheed hoped that the Indian government would take note of the changed scenario in his country and support the democratic aspirations of its people.

Mr Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, former Secretary of the SAARC and former Minister in the Gayoom Government, said Mr Gayoom was wooing China now because he knew that democratic India would start supporting ''democratic aspirations of the Maldivian people.'' ''Mr Gayoom's party has developed relations with the Communist Party of China,'' he added.

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