Maldives unrest puts Modi's trip under shadow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Maldives on March 15 is under shadow because of troubled situation in the island nation after the arrest of former President Mohamed Nasheed earlier this week.

With Maldives witnessing mass rallies and protest against the detention of Nasheed on terror charges, it is understood that a clear decision on whether Modi should visit the Indian Ocean island, which was initially part of the prime minister's four-nation visit, has not been taken.

Meanwhile, officials have already given the days for Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles -- the three other countries.

Maintaining that a final decision will only be taken after the return of the advance team from Maldives on Sunday, the officials said, "Usually for any multi-nation visit, the dates are announced together but in this case dates for only three countries have been announced. Therefore, it is very clear that Maldives' trip is under shadow and is not clearly decided upon."

Nasheed, 47, the country's first democratically elected leader, was arrested on Sunday on terror charges for ordering the arrest of a senior judge in 2012. His arrest has triggered mass rallies and protests across Maldives.

Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of Nasheed gathered in the Male to participate in a rally against the detention, raising fears of violence as police warned legal action against demonstrators.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party-Jumhooree Party alliance, which is organising the rally, said 20,000 people are participating in the demonstration.