Gayoom accuses President Nasheed of enforcing double standards in Majlis

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom sent a two-page letter to President Mohamed Nasheed last week, complaining of “double standards” in dealing with disruptive MPs in the legislature.

Following the forced cancellation of three consecutive sittings of parliament last week, three MPs of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) breakaway faction loyal to Gayoom were forcibly removed from the chamber on Wednesday on orders from Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim.

Nazim is the parliamentary group leader of the minority opposition People’s Alliance (PA), led by Gayoom’s half-brother MP Abdulla Yaameen.

According to Sun Online, in the letter Gayoom writes, “A while ago, members of parliament from MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) continuously disrupted Majlis sessions, and you did not take any measures or actions to stop that. However, you are taking action against members of parliament who belong to DRP, PA, Jumhoory Party and [Dhivehi] Qaumee Party (DQP) when they do the same in protest. Why are you doing that?”

The former president continued, “I have told Mr. Ibrahim Hussein Zaki [Special Envoy of President Nasheed] that I do not interfere with anything that goes on in the People’s Majlis, and that I have not given any instructions or advice to any MP about anything that is happening there. This is the truth, and I have communicated this via Mr. Adam Naeem to your Cabinet Secretary.”