Former President and special advisor to the opposition coalition Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has aimed heavy criticism at President Ibrahim Solih Mohamed after the ex-President was summoned to the police today.
The former President was summoned to the police after it was reported that Dr. Waheed was seen addressing the crowd at the latest rally held by the opposition coalition without wearing a facemask.
It is now mandatory to wear a facemask in public in the Greater Male’ Area and is punishable by a fine of MVR 1000 for the offense.
Speaking to reporters outside the police headquarters today, ex-President Dr. Waheed said that he had lowered his facemask to address the crowd as it was difficult to speak with the mask on.
He also said that the police summon had a political motive and showed that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had no other option but to do so.
The former President also aimed indirect criticism towards Speaker of the Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed by saying that the Speaker had failed to wear a facemask at the recent book signing event held for the book Nasheed had recently released. Dr. Waheed noted that the speaker was seen without a mask at the airport in the midst of several people before departing on his informal trip to the UK.
Dr. Waheed said the lack of action against President Nasheed only proved that Dr. Waheed was summoned to the police only because he now stands within opposition ranks or else he wouldn’t have been summoned.
