Second ‘India Out’ banner hung at PPM office also removed

The second banner linked to ‘India Out’ campaign hung at H. Hurafa – the building at which Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) headquarters is located – has also been removed by the Police.

The banner hung outside the building was removed by the Police after entering the building with a court order at approximately 3:30am last night.

Criminal Court had issued the said order at 23:30pm last night. It read that the banner comprised of the “colors and the symbol of Indian national flag” – whereas “out” being written in such a banner has chances of adversely impacting foreign relations.

The Court further stated that hanging spelling altered ‘India Out’ banners and drawing graffiti depicting similar messages following their initial order for the removal of ‘India Out’ banners are seen by the Court as an attempt to indirectly promote the campaign in defiance.

 ‘India Out’ is a campaign led by the opposition coalition in protest of Indian military presence in the Maldives.

Whilst they were gearing up to expand ‘India Out’ campaign across the Maldives, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a decree declaring the ‘India Out’ campaign as a threat to national security.

Subsequently, huge banners with ‘India Out’ written in bold letters were hung at former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s house, H. Dhoovehi, and PPM headquarters, located in H. Hurafa, were both forcibly removed by Police after entering the buildings with court orders.

Spelling altered ‘India Out’ banners placed on later, which read ‘In Dear Out’ were also removed. Subsequently, supporters of the campaign had begun grafitting indirect messages related to ‘India Out’ outside homes.

Opposition coalition has filed a case at the Civil Court, to nullify the President’s decree, citing it to be unlawful.