The Hindu : National : “I am a friend of Bhutan”

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Sunday, May 18, 2008
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“I am a friend of Bhutan”

Siddharth Varadarajan

Thimphu: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ended his two-day visit to Bhutan on Saturday with an address before the first-ever joint sitting of the country’s newly elected Parliament. Declaring himself to be “a friend, and quite frankly, an admirer” of Bhutan, Dr. Singh promised full support for the country’s process of planned development.

He also formally announced India’s decision to begin construction of the first-ever rail link into the Himalayan kingdom from Hashimara in northern Bengal. This link to be called the ‘Golden Jubilee Rail Line’ in commemoration of Jawaharlal Nehru’s first visit to Bhutan 50 years ago will “connect Bhutan to the entire railway network of India,” the Prime Minister promised.

He later dedicated the 1,020 MW Tala hydroelectric plant, built entirely with Indian assistance, at a formal ceremony in the courtyard of the Gyalong Tshokhang, which houses Bhutan’s parliament. He also laid the foundation stone for the Punatsangchhu hydel project.

Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit, Dr. Singh said the quantum of Indian economic engagement with Bhutan over the next five years would be Rs. 10,000 crore. This would be in the form of both direct assistance to the country’s 10th five year plan as well as for the development of mega projects in hydropower and infrastructure.

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