President Patil arrives on four-day visit to Bhutan

Subhashis Mittra

Thimpu (Bhutan), Nov 5 (PTI) Heralding a new era in
bilateral relationship with Bhutan, President Pratibha Patil
Wednesday began her maiden four-day visit to the Himalayan
nation during which she will attend the coronation of its 5th
king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

As President Patil's special aircraft landed at the
Paro airport, the fourth King Jigme Singey Wangchuck, the
father of the king-in-waiting, in an unusual gesture received
her there. Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley was also present.

School children waving national flags of both
countries and chanting "welcome to Bhutan" and "namaste" lined
up at several places on both sides of the road leading from
Paro airport to capital city of Thimpu.

In Thimphu, the fifth king Kigme Khesar Namgyel
Wangchuck received her at the hotel.

The last high-level visit to Bhutan was made by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh in May this year after Druk Phuensum
Tshogpa (D.P.T.) leader Jigme Y Thinley was elected Prime
Minister of the first democratically elected government.

Thinley paid a State visit to India in July -- his
first foreign tour after assuming office -- reflecting the
importance Bhutan attaches to friendship with India.

President Patil will attend the two-day ceremony on
November six and seven when 28-year-old Jigme Khesar will be
crowned king.

The colourful function is likely to be attended by
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Congress President
Sonia Gandhi and her family, and representatives of over two
dozen countries.

The Bhutanese government has declared a week-long holiday
from November six for the celebrations which are expected to
continue for 42 days.

The ceremony will begin with the members of the royal
family offering khadar (ceremonial scarves) in to the
king-in-waiting in the throne room on November six.

The ceremony will then shift to the other parts of the
Tashichhodzong where the clergy, international guests,
officials and the public will offer scarves to the King.

The last Coronation Bhutan saw was nearly 35 years ago in
1974, when the Fourth King Jigme Singey Wangchuk was crowned.

The Coronation of the Fifth King comes barely six
months after Bhutan's historic first democratic election which
saw the installation of the D.P.T. government headed Thiley.

Bhutan has a population of about 5.5 lakh of which about
37,500 are foreign residents -- a bulk being Indian nationals.

During his visit to Bhutan, the Prime Minister had
announced that India will construct the first ever rail link
'The Golden Jubilee Rail Line' between connecting Hashimara on
the Indian side to Phuentsholing in Bhutan.

India shares a 700-km porous border with Bhutan and the
cooperation in security and border management was further
strengthened by setting up a Joint Working Group which last
met in November last year. The para-military Sashastra Seema
Bal (S.S.B.) guards the border and also provides protection to
Bhutanese convoys transiting through Assam.

Bhutan had shown an unprecedented gesture in January 2004
when its Army flushed out Indian Insurgent Groups based in
that country.

India is the principal donor for the economic development
of Bhutan and the bilateral economic engagement over the next
five years is expected to be around Rs.10,000 crore, a chunk
of which is earmarked for cooperation in hydel power.

India is also Bhutan's major trade partner and there is a
free trade regime between the two sides.