Former President Abdullah Yameen has responded to a statement by the Elections Commission in regards to the latest anti-India rally organized by the opposition.
The Commission had called on political parties to follow the instructions and orders issued by state institutions and also respect the diplomatic relationships the Maldives has formed with other countries.
It also said that under the Political Parties Act, the parties should be operated within the Act as well as other laws of the country along with the Constitution.
In a harsh rebuttal, Yameen said that in a democratic state, the role of the opposition party is to hold the government accountable and more responsible and it's a duty placed upon it by the public.
Speaking at a meeting held by the opposition last night, Yameen said that Commissioner of Elections Fuwad Thaufeeq should not make comments on the opposition exercising its rights to express freely.
Yameen further said that the opposition would take responsibility for its own actions and that in other democratic nations, opposition parties would criticize the government's foreign policies.
He said that if the daily lives of the public are affected, then the opposition must work to find a better solution.
