The speech caused a minor diplomatic crisis between India and the Maldives, because the two countries had agreed to a maritime boundary treaty whereby Minicoy was placed on the Indian side of the boundary.
However, on 26 July 1982, Abdulla Hameed, the half-brother of Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the Minister of Atolls for the Maldivian government, gave a speech in which he declared that Minicoy Island was part of the Maldives.
Abdulla Hameed | Zakaria Abdulla | Prince Abdulla | Fatema Hameed Gerashi | Abdulla Qahhor | Abdulla Majid Al Naimi |