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Journalism of Courage
New Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh is likely to travel to Bhutan next week even as India restored the subsidy after a month,sources said here Friday. She is expected to hold talks about the Indian assistance to Bhutans next five-year plan.
This will be her first bilateral visit as Foreign Secretary,much like her predecessor Ranjan Mathai who too had visited the Himalayan nation as his first trip overseas signalling the importance that South Block attaches to its bilateral ties with the country.
The visit comes close on the heels of India restoring the subsidy on August 1.
Sources said that MEA had conducted a review in June last week before the subsidy cut,and it had transferred Rs 300 crore to the interim government as a result of the excise duty refund. This money was transferred to the Bhutan government,with the expectation that it will be used by Thimphu to take care of their remaining budgetary
requirements.
Sources said the June 14 note from the Ministry of External Affairs northern division which cited a lack of transparency and openness on the part of Bhutan and advocated that India should demonstrate seriousness through some concrete expression of displeasure dealt with power projects,small development projects and development plans assistance. This note dealt with the excise duty refund.
Singh confirmed on Thursday that she will be travelling to Bhutan. India and Bhutan share a unique relationship which has always been characterised by mutual trust and confidence. We are working closely with the new government of Bhutan to continue to consolidate our privileged partnership and I can confirm to you that as of today the unfortunate technical lapse that has led to this kind of comment and debate is now a thing of the past, she said,while taking charge
on Thursday.
We attach priority to our relationship with Bhutan and…that my first bilateral visit will be to Bhutan. Our Prime Minister has invited the Bhutanese Prime Minister to visit India and I will be visiting Thimpu and when I am there I will consult with our Bhutanese friends on how we can work towards an early visit of Prime Minister Tobgay to India, she had said.
