New Delhi, June 25 (UNI) India on Monday dismissed reports in a section of media that it has 'lowered' limits on the export of certain essential commodities such as potatoes and onions to Maldives as "misleading" and said it remains committed to "strong people to people ties" between two countries.
"The reports are misleading. As highlighted in the recent notification by the Director General of Foreign Trade, the requirements are calculated based on actual utilisation in recent past," an MEA spokesperson said in response to a question here.
He also said the decision is "consistent" with the mechanism of the trade agreement signed between India and Maldives in 1981.
"India remains firmly committed to strong people to people ties between two countries and will ensure that people of Maldives do not have to endure any hardships," he said.
The response from the MEA official comes after media reports that India has lowered the limits on the export of certain essential commodities including eggs, onion and potatoes to the Maldives, by means of a recent notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
The notification had reportedly triggered reports of possible food shortages in the Maldives.
Under provisions of a bilateral pact since 1981, India exports essential commodities to Maldives
in line with the 'requirement' as communicated by the government of Maldives.
This time, however, the government of Maldives did not send any requirement missive and thus the Indian government agencies calculated the average of last few years and decided on the limits.
Lately, there are differences in bilateral relations between India and Maldives government.
On June 14, New Delhi slammed the Maldives ruling dispensation and expressed "dismay" that
former President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as well as the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court Abdulla Saeed were sentenced to long prison terms without fair trial.
"This casts doubt on the commitment of the Government of the Maldives to uphold the rule of law and will also call into question the credibility of the entire process of Presidential elections in September this year," a statement from Ministry of External Affairs has said.
"Since the beginning of the political crisis in the Maldives, India has repeatedly urged the Government of the Maldives to allow all institutions, including the Supreme Court and the Parliament, to function in a free and independent manner," the statement has said.
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