India played a “positive” role in restoration of democracy in the Maldives by “exerting pressure” on the ruling regime, and the new government in the island nation would be “sensitive” towards New Delhi’s “concerns”, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said on Sunday.

Nearly a month after he was released from jail, Gayoom, who ruled the Maldives for three decades till 2008, said the government of President Abdulla Yameen inflicted “huge damage” on his country but democratic forces had prevailed over their “enemies”.

Joint Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came out victorious in the September 23 presidential election.

The political turmoil was triggered by imposition of emergency in February and jailing of several Opposition leaders including Gayoom.

“The last few years did erode the credibility of Maldivian constitutional bodies as well as confidence of the Maldivian people in the state,” 80-year-old Gayoom told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Asked whether Yameen drew his strength from Chinese backing, Gayoom, credited with forging strong ties with India, hoped that China would respect the will of the Maldivian people.

“We value the support China has given for our development. However, we are concerned at the level of debt we have incurred in recent years, and feel this needs to be carefully reviewed and managed,” he said in the e-mail interview.

Asked about India’s role after imposition of emergency by Yameen in February, Gayoom said: “India did play a positive role, and along with other international partners, did exert pressure towards restoration of democracy.”

“Keeping the Maldivian issue alive in international fora did result in putting pressure on the Yameen regime,” Gayoom said.

“I do not see the events of the last few years having a lasting impact (on bilateral ties).… I do not think these bumps and turbulence would impact decades of (our) India-first policy,” he said.

Describing India as the “closest and most trusted ally” of the Maldives, Gayoom said it was in the interests of the country’s geographical neighbours that there was stability in the Indian Ocean region.

“I am confident that the new government will work towards achieving this. We will be sensitive towards the concerns of India as well as of other friends,” Gayoom said.