Bhutan and India – Apple of
discard
The BRO or border road
organization is an Indian agency, which builds road in border area.
The Border Roads Organization,
which helps build Bhutanese roads under Project Dantak,
decided in July to make markers in shades of the Indian tricolour, it raised
red flags among the Bhutanese on social media.
Citizens were worried that
this was an attempt by India to impose its flag on their countryside. This
wasn’t a first incident, people earlier also felt that India is tempering with “sovereignty,
security and self-sufficiency” of Bhutan as Bhutan is going through democratic
transition.
What is the need?
The upcoming months may
also be a useful to revise India’s Bhutan policy and address
several issues that have come up in the past few years —
for example, the hydropower projects
where delays in constructing and commissioning in Bhutan by Indian
companies have led to the country’s burgeoning national debt. Although the
government agreed to raise tariffs for the original hydropower plant in Chukha
(by about 30 paisa per unit) in February this year, other tariffs will need to
be renegotiated too.
In addition, India’s
power-surplus status and the advent of other renewable energies like wind and
solar power will make it more difficult for Bhutan to ensure that its
hydropower sector becomes profitable. And unless India finds ways to
help, it will be accused of the same sort of “debt-trapping” that China is
accused of today.
India also needs to focus on policing
cross-border trade better.
The goods and services tax
still hurts Bhutanese exporters, and demonetization has left lasting scars on
the banking system.
India Bhutan Relationship – An Overview-
Himalaya kingdom of Bhutan and the republic of
India have been closely together traditionally. India and Bhutan shares
same border and special relationship as well as both countries have had strong
diplomatic ties for decades.
2007 treaty- Under the 2007
India-Bhutan friendship treaty, the two sides have agreed to cooperate closely
with each other on issues relating to their national interests. The language of
2007 treaty is meant to respect the sensitivities of Bhutan regarding its
sovereignly. But the reality is that the Indian military is virtually
responsible for protecting Bhutan from the kind of external threats.
Bhutan has preserved its
isolation from the outside world, staying out of international organization
and maintaining few bilateral relations. In 1910, Bhutan became a
protectorate of British India meaning that while it existed as separate entity,
much of its foreign policy, economy and defense was controlled by the
Britishers.
Bhutan is the largest
beneficiary of India’s foreign aid-
Bhutan is the largest
beneficiary of India's foreign aid. In the 2012-2013 fiscal report, India's
contribution of Bhutan totaled up to 600 million USD in 2013-2016.
Some Other issues
Doklam issue--- In June 2017,
Chinese Army Construction Party had entered the Doklam area and attempted to
construct a road. Royal Bhutan Army patrol had attempted to dissuade them from
this unilateral activity. Later Bhutan underlined that the construction of the
road inside Bhutanese territory was a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998
agreement between Bhutan and China affected the process of demarcating the
boundary between two countries----since these developments India and Bhutan
have been in continues contact, giving a view of India's role in Bhutan's
security and matters of mutual interest.
Current situation between
India-Bhutan.- During the golden jubilee year of relationship, India Bhutan to
hold discussion on issue of mutual interest, and advancing the exemplary ties
of friendship for the benefit of both countries.
However,
there should be caution while dealing with Bhutan. India needs to preserve its
image that it does not lure countries into debt trap as well as India always
has respected other nations ‘ sovereignty, security and self sufficiency’.
