After the collapse of the tourism industry, the president of the continent, Mohammed Muizhu, sought refuge in India. During his four-day visit, he is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to discuss various bilateral, regional, and international issues.
National media reports suggest that Muizhu may propose a bailout or financial assistance to PM Modi in a bid to address the severe financial crisis facing his country. On the first day of his visit to New Delhi, Muizhu met with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.
He will remain in India until October 10, accompanied by his wife, Sajida. In addition to New Delhi, he plans to visit Mumbai and Bengaluru. Notably, Muizhu attended Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in June.
Muizhu rose to prominence with the “India Out” slogan, and his government recently decided to withdraw Indian troops from the continent. Relations with India soured after a cabinet minister made disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Modi.
As a consequence, Indian tourists now favor visiting Lakshadweep over the mainland. This shift has led to the collapse of the tourism industry, once the economic backbone of the continent. Moreover, the region faces a dire financial situation, with only one and a half months’ worth of foreign currency reserves available for imports.