Bhutan-India relations special: Pranab

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee described ties between India and Bhutan as a “model relationship”, where mutual trust and confidence have helped build close relations between the two neighbours.

In an interview to Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)on the eve of his two-day visit to Bhutan on Thursday, Mukherjee said India will continue to assist it in its economic development as Bhutan was “special to India”.

He said India has given Rs 300 crore to Bhutan last year and another Rs 900 crore has already been disbursed this year for development purposes and more aid will also be disbursed in the course of time.

“India-Bhutan relations is a model relationship amongst neighbours,” he said, adding “mutual trust and confidence have helped build close relations between India and Bhutan.”

“I am fortunate to have personal relationship with the royal family of Bhutan…We have a relationship with Bhutan which cannot be compared with any other. Bhutan is special to India,” Mukherjee said.

He added, ”The cooperation we have with Bhutan and the close relationship, our common security, the common approach of helping our people, the common objective to share experiences, resources and expertise with each other have placed our relations in a unique position. We are participating in the developmental projects of Bhutan without any conditionality”.