Former president Abdul Gayoom under custody in Male. (AP)LESS THAN 20 hours after embattled Maldives President Abdulla Yameen imposed a “state of emergency” for 15 days, plunging the island nation into deep crisis, India on Tuesday said it was disturbed by the declaration of emergency and termed the arrests of Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as “reasons for concern”. In a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “We are disturbed by the declaration of a state of emergency in Maldives, following the refusal of the government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on February 1, and also by the suspension of constitutional rights of the people of Maldives. The arrest of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and political figures are also reasons for concern.” It added that the Indian government continues to “carefully monitor” the situation in…
