Dr Lotay’s agenda affect India-Bhutan relations – Indian media

The new government has not taken the office but India has already begun its bullying culture in an effort to take rein on the new government.

India media quoting S D Muni, who works with Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), said the economic agenda of Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering would affect India Bhutan relations. Muni stresses Bhutan must not diversify its economy but must rely on hydropower for its entire income. He has been officially appointed prime minister by King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk on Monday.

India fears China may indirectly help Bhutan to diversify its economy to reduce relying solely on hydropower. Hydropower is the major export of Bhutanese economy and is absolutely absorbed in India.

India’s mission to electricity powered by nuclear energy means in next few decades, hydropower produced in Bhutan will not be required by India. That will collapse Bhutanese economy, fatally.

Diversifying Bhutan’s hydropower-reliant economy was one of the major election pledges of Tshering’s Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT). The party’s manifesto reads stresses the need for diversifying economy by strengthening manufacturing, agriculture, mining and service.

The party had expressed concern over hydropower debt with India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, within hours of result announcement, invited Tshering for official India visit.

Though, Bhutanese political parties and politicians do not align to any political philosophies such as leftists or rightists, Indian media have portrayed DNT to be centre-left party.

Bhutan has long made attempts to get out of Indian grip. The Doklam incident was not purely the Chinese intrusion but Bhutanese tactics to get roadway connection with China without Indian knowledge.