Former President Mohamed Nasheed has requested Indian government for asylum fearing he might be sentenced to prison.
According to Nasheed the case against him in court is politically motivated and is a conspiracy against him prevent him from contesting in the Presidential Election of 2018.
In an interview to India Today, the former President stated that the government has been manipulating the judiciary since they came to power.
“Soon after the coup (2012) they started working on it and now they have succeeded in manipulating it. They removed the Chief Justice as well as another member of the Supreme Court unlawfully (December 2014) and have appointed a removed judge as the new Chief Justice who is now sitting on the highest court and dispensing sentences,” he said.
When asked whether he believes that the government is targeting him personally he stated that it is part of the bigger picture.
“President Yameen came to power through a coalition with the Jumhooree Party (JP) but this coalition has now fallen apart. One year down the line (after Yameen's election) and he has started consolidating power very quickly. Going fast to the autocracy of his brother (former President Gayoom who ruled the nation for three decades till 2008) - they are going back to a form of governance that they are more familiar with. They are changing all independent institutions and now the JP has decided not to back this autocratic rule and we have been able to come with it in defence of the constitution. We have now shifted parliamentary majority and under these circumstances it is impossible for Yameen to govern. So it you do not open up to elections the other way is to arrest everyone,” he said.
He said that he is sure no one in India wants Maldives to slide back to autocracy.
“That would not be in the interest of our or your security. I have spent half of my adult life in jail and now am pushing 47. I do not want to spend more time in jail. I beg that the Indian people - so many of whom are friends - do not let me go back to jail. I have many good friends in India and your government and would want them to keep a close watch on things. If I go to jail, please come and get me and take me to India. I would like to live in Bangalore,” he said.