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THIMPHU: In the spring of 1989, when India had shut down all but two of its exit points to Nepal after a trade and transit dispute, Nepal's ambassador to the US, Mohan Man Sainju, had famously said, " Nepal is not only landlocked, but is also India-locked."
About a quarter of a century later, Bhutan, another close ally of India's, seems to have come close to a similar situation. This became evident after critical commentaries appeared in Thimphu-based newspapers after India cut cooking gas and kerosene subsidies last week. Until then, the Bhutanese were extra cautious about their dealings with India.
"I call Bhutan India-locked because New Delhi expects us to report to it on our external affairs. It does not want us to deviate from what it wants from us in foreign policy matters," Bhutanese commentator and head of Research & Policy House Gopilal Acharya told TOI. This was in reminiscent of what the Nepali diplomat had said earlier. "The timing of the subsidy cuts was bad. They came just before the election," Acharya rued.
In political and diplomatic circles, this kind of assertiveness by India is largely attributed to the relentless efforts of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), which headed Bhutan's first democratic government from 2008 to 2013, to put the country on the global radar. In five years, it established diplomatic relations with 32 countries, taking advantage of the 2007 revision of the 1949 India-Bhutan Treaty that allowed Thimphu to freely pursue its foreign policy. In the pre-democracy era, the kingdom had ties only with 21 nations. Under DPT, it even ran for a non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council.
The major opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) describes this expansion of diplomatic ties as "unnecessary." Its manifesto is India-centric with a special focus on close relations with bordering Indian states like West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim and Bihar. It pledges to "tread on the international stage cautiously."
In contrast, the DPT manifesto pays more attention to Bhutan's role at the UN, Saarc, Nam, BIMSTEC and other international forums. It says it will focus on "economic diplomacy" while Bhutan marches "towards self-reliance by 2020". In the same breath, it describes Bhutan's relations with India as "the cornerstone of our foreign policy." Many believe that DPT's "internationalist approach" rubbed India the wrong way.
In its editorial on Monday, Bhutan's English-language daily Kuensel, where the government holds 51% shares, wrote, "Many Bhutanese are hurt and angered by the timing (of the subsidy cuts), and feel it is a deliberate move to rock the elections." It added, "Some say that, on July 13, it will not be the people of Bhutan but the world's largest democracy that could win the elections in the world's youngest democracy."
Many Bhutanese said this is the first time that they have come across such open criticisms of India. "Maybe, democracy has taught our people to speak out their minds. But this phase will not last long considering the strong bond of friendship we have with India," a senior journalist explained.
Both DPT and PDP leaders, too, supported this view. "Let the election be over, everything will be all right. Our media is young but vibrant. It does not spare us too. Our ties with India are sacred and above party interests," DPT officiating president Yeshey Zimba remarked. "Nothing can break our bond with India," PDP secretary general Sonam Jatso added. The two main parties contending for power (Bhutan follows a bi-party system) were against being clubbed with other south Asian nations that are not quite friendly towards India.
Link - Bhutan Happy? Not when India is leaning so hard - The Times of India
About a quarter of a century later, Bhutan, another close ally of India's, seems to have come close to a similar situation. This became evident after critical commentaries appeared in Thimphu-based newspapers after India cut cooking gas and kerosene subsidies last week. Until then, the Bhutanese were extra cautious about their dealings with India.
"I call Bhutan India-locked because New Delhi expects us to report to it on our external affairs. It does not want us to deviate from what it wants from us in foreign policy matters," Bhutanese commentator and head of Research & Policy House Gopilal Acharya told TOI. This was in reminiscent of what the Nepali diplomat had said earlier. "The timing of the subsidy cuts was bad. They came just before the election," Acharya rued.
In political and diplomatic circles, this kind of assertiveness by India is largely attributed to the relentless efforts of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), which headed Bhutan's first democratic government from 2008 to 2013, to put the country on the global radar. In five years, it established diplomatic relations with 32 countries, taking advantage of the 2007 revision of the 1949 India-Bhutan Treaty that allowed Thimphu to freely pursue its foreign policy. In the pre-democracy era, the kingdom had ties only with 21 nations. Under DPT, it even ran for a non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council.
The major opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) describes this expansion of diplomatic ties as "unnecessary." Its manifesto is India-centric with a special focus on close relations with bordering Indian states like West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim and Bihar. It pledges to "tread on the international stage cautiously."
In contrast, the DPT manifesto pays more attention to Bhutan's role at the UN, Saarc, Nam, BIMSTEC and other international forums. It says it will focus on "economic diplomacy" while Bhutan marches "towards self-reliance by 2020". In the same breath, it describes Bhutan's relations with India as "the cornerstone of our foreign policy." Many believe that DPT's "internationalist approach" rubbed India the wrong way.
In its editorial on Monday, Bhutan's English-language daily Kuensel, where the government holds 51% shares, wrote, "Many Bhutanese are hurt and angered by the timing (of the subsidy cuts), and feel it is a deliberate move to rock the elections." It added, "Some say that, on July 13, it will not be the people of Bhutan but the world's largest democracy that could win the elections in the world's youngest democracy."
Many Bhutanese said this is the first time that they have come across such open criticisms of India. "Maybe, democracy has taught our people to speak out their minds. But this phase will not last long considering the strong bond of friendship we have with India," a senior journalist explained.
Both DPT and PDP leaders, too, supported this view. "Let the election be over, everything will be all right. Our media is young but vibrant. It does not spare us too. Our ties with India are sacred and above party interests," DPT officiating president Yeshey Zimba remarked. "Nothing can break our bond with India," PDP secretary general Sonam Jatso added. The two main parties contending for power (Bhutan follows a bi-party system) were against being clubbed with other south Asian nations that are not quite friendly towards India.
Link - Bhutan Happy? Not when India is leaning so hard - The Times of India
