India-Maldives row: Muizzu changes tune, says Indian troops cannot be removed with 'short tempers'

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who is determined to remove Indian troops from the country, appears to be moderating his stance a bit under pressure from the public and opposition parties in the archipelago nation. Muizzu, who is pro-China, last month gave a deadline of March 15 to India to withdraw about 80 troops stationed there. After returning from his first China visit, he also launched a broadside against India saying, in the presence of Indian Ambassador Munu Mahawar, "We may be small but that doesn't give you the license to bully us." READ MORE FROM BUSINESS TODAY