During his two-day visit to Himalayan kingdom, Bhutan commencing from May 16, Prime Minister will be the first foreign leader to address the elected Parliament of the newly formed sole democratic country after its transformation from absolute to a constitutional monarchy to democracy.
Elections in Bhutan for the constitution of democratic Parliament were held on March 24 this year. The Bhutan Peace and Prosperity party backed by monarch himself, led by Lyonchen Jigme Y Thinley credited with being the first Prime Minister by winning 45 of the 47 seats.
Dr. Manmohan Singh during his visit will also hold discussions on the comprehensive issues of mutual interests with his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonchen Thinley comprising India's development aid to the Himalayan kingdom.
Among all foreign aid to Bhutan, India is credited with the largest donor and supplies about 80% of Bhutan's foreign assistance.
Dr. Sing will also dedicate the 1020 MW Tala hydroelectric project (THEP) to the people of Bhutan. It's a run-of-the-river project on the Wangchu River, downstream of Chukha Hydroelectric project .The project was taken up for implantation in 1996 with Indian assistance. He will also lay the foundation stone of the 1095 MW Punatsangchhu hydroelectric power plant.
Besides these power plants, New Delhi is also assisting in most of the other hydroelectric projects and all major developmental projects with huge loan and aid and technology transfer to the country. Some of the projects which are undertaken with India's assistance are Kurichhu hydro-electric Project, Dungsum Cement Plant (DCP), Sunkosh Multipurpose Project (SMP) which is the biggest identified hydroelectricity project of the Himalayan Kingdom.
Bhutan had already submitted two project reports on the development of 360 MW Mangdechhu and the 870 MW Puna Tsangchhu hydroelectric projects to New Delhi.
India is the largest donor of foreign aid to Bhutan and with New Delhi's initiative; the Himalayan Kingdom had launched its First Five Year Economic Development Plan in 1961. Its first and second Five Year Economic Development Plan (1962-67) were completely funded by India.
In fact, Indo-Bhutan bilateral relationship is much deep dated back to 1949, when Bhutan signed a political treaty with independent India. Last year, both the nation signed an updated treaty of friendship which gave Bhutan more freedom in conducting its external relations and purchasing military purchases.
Bhutan has been the closest ally of India in South Asia and maintained trouble-free relations with it. It has always supported India in the SAARC forums and other international forums.
Dr. Singh will also meet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the monarch who paved the way for the democratic transition. P.V. Narasimha Rao was the last Indian prime minister who visited Thimphu in 1993.
With the assistance and guidance of former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhuta headed for the first time towards a new era of democracy by holding elections to Parliament on March 24.
The actual movement to democracy had begun in 2001, when the former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck handed over the tasks of government to a council of ministers and stepped down in favour of his son in 2006. The new king also walked on the path shown by his father and with his help, the country successfully succeeded in transition from constitution monarchy to democracy.
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