NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAY 12
As part of ‘Mission Sagar’, Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered Port of Male, the Maldives on Tuesday. The Government of India is assisting friendly foreign countries and towards this INS Kesari is carrying 580 tons of food provisions for the people of Maldives, a Defence spokesman said.
Mission Sagar : INS Kesari Hands Over Food Provisions to Maldives https://t.co/8H0D5MfM1f #Covid19 #SwasthaBharat #sayyes2precautions #MoDAgainstCorona #StayHomeIndia #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/LGxry0mXR5
— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) May 12, 2020
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and social distance norms, an online handing over ceremony was held on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by the Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and the Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi of the Maldives. The Indian side was represented by the High Commissioner of India to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir. Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid appreciated the assistance provided by India.
#MissionSAGAR#INSKesari entering Port of #Male, #Maldives today.#हरकामदेशकेनाम#SecurityAndGrowthforAllintheRegion#SAGAR#BridgesofFriendship @SpokespersonMoD@MEAIndia@HCIMaldives https://t.co/t9ZDytTJwr pic.twitter.com/GtxUIADKeL
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 12, 2020
The deployment of the ship aligns with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ and its neighbourhood first policy, in both of which the Maldives figures prominently. The mission is being progressed in close coordination between the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India.
Mission Sagar follows close on the heels of Operation Samudra Setu, which is aimed at repatriation of Indian Citizens from overseas, including the Maldives. A total of 900 Indian nationals were repatriated by INS Jalashwa and INS Magar on May 8 and 10, respectively.
India and Maldives are close maritime neighbours with strong and extremely cordial defence and diplomatic relations, the spokesman added.
