Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi says although some in the country have been saying that India is a threat to Maldivian independence and sovereignty, the reality is that there is no evidence to confirm that India poses a danger to the country's freedom.
She made these comments in an appearance on the 'Fashaa Iru' program broadcasted on MDP-affiliated Raaje TV earlier today.
Minister Mariya said that the Indian military personal or any other persons are not deployed in the country with weapons but were here in a professional capacity.
She noted that Indian-operated Dornier Aircraft and the military helicopter do not conduct any missions in the Maldives without the government's authorization.
Defense Minister Mariya said that the opposition has been carrying the India Out campaign on a large scale for the last three years but there are now cracks on the country's freedom.
She said some fear the expansion of the missions carried out by the Indian helicopter and Dornier aircraft and that some of these people are those who smuggle narcotics into the country.
Mariya added that a lot of drug networks have been shut down recently due to the expansion of the Dornier aircraft missions.
She said that in the country's history, the last two years had seen record drug busts conducted in the country.
