Reacting to concerns raised by India over the extension of the State of Emergency in the Maldives, the country's ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday said the assertion by the Government of India about the extension is a clear distortion of facts.
"The Government of Maldives takes note of the public statements issued by the Government of India that ignore the facts and ground realities with regard to the ongoing political developments in the Maldives," the MoFA said in a statement.
"The assertion by the Government of India that the extension of the State of Emergency by the People's Majlis was unconstitutional is a clear distortion of facts, which ignore the Constitution and Laws of the Maldives," the statement added.
The Maldives emphasised that the country is going through a difficult period and urge the friends, allies and the international community to refrain from making such statements.
"There is no doubt that the Maldives is experiencing one of the most difficult periods in the history of the nation. It is therefore important that friends and partners in the international community, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country," the MoFA said.
"The Government of Maldives reiterates its firm commitment to work closely with the international community, including India, to address the concerns they might have," it added.
Earlier in the day, India's ministry of external affairs Spokesperson Ravish Kumar said that India did not see "any valid reason" for the extension of emergency in the Maldives.
-- ANI