Amid stepped up efforts by India to help ease the political crisis in Maldives, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai is set to hold talks with political leaders in Male to get firsthand assessment of the situation.
Mathai will arrive in Male this evening by a special flight, more than a week after Mohammed Nasheed stepped down as President in what he claimed was a coup d'etat.
He will meet a number of Maldivian political leaders, including Nasheed and new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan, official sources said.
Last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had dispatched his special envoy M Ganapathi in Male.
Ganapathi, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, had held talks with both Hassan and Nasheed and sought a peaceful solution to the complex situation here.
Since Nasheed's resignation, there have been a slew of diplomatic visits here from various countries, including the US.
Currently, a delegation of the European Union is in Male.
Nasheed and his supporters have openly expressed their disappointment with the Indian government for its stand over the turn of events here.
Nasheed was unhappy over New Delhi reaching out to the new leadership.
Prime Minister Singh had written to new President Hassan, expressing "continued support" for the efforts to ensure stability and peace in the country.
Dejected by the cold shoulder given by India, Nasheed had said that New Delhi had taken his party "for granted" and may lose "leverage" to China under the new regime.
Diplomatic sources, however, said India continued to be good friends with both Nasheed and the new regime.
"Our policy is not party-centric or people-centric. We continue to remain friends with both. We have been engaging with both sides," a source said.
The sources pointed out that India had facilitated the former regime and will continue to facilitate the government in the country.
"Relations are taken forward with the government and the people. India remains a strong supporter of Maldivian people," they said.
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