Indian involvement needed for repatriation of exiled Bhutanese
New Delhi, March 31: Pressure from the Indian political leaders to the central government of India for resolution of the issue of exiled Bhutanese is getting momentum.
On Saturday, March 31, more than a dozen noted Indian leaders, including those of the ruling Congress (I) urged the central government to play the role of facilitator for thier dignified repatriation.
On the eve of the 14th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to be held here in New Delhi, Indian political leaders and other social organizations have asked the External Affairs Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee to take initiatives to help repatriate exiled Bhutanese.
They handed over a letter in the afternoon to Mukherjee in which they have urged him to lead tripartite talks between Bhutan, Nepal and India to resolve the over one-and-a-half decade long issue.
They have also warned of starting a series of protest programs including Satyagraha against the Indian government if the central government of India failed to consider the problem.
The letter written after a meeting of Bhutan Solidarity under the convenorship of Madhya Pradesh legislative member Dr Sunilam has alleged that over 100,000 encamped Bhutanese have failed to return to their homeland due to India.
The Solidarity has also decided to unite all political parties and social organizations in India for the cause of exiled Bhutanese. "We request you to organize tripartite talks between Bhutan, Nepal and India to help repatriate [exiled] Bhutanese to their homes with safety and dignity," reads the letter.
The Solidarity has urged the Indian government to allow Bhutanese to pass through Indian territory without any hindrance, if the India cannot resolve the problem. The Solidarity members, in the letter, have said that it was an irony on the part of India, which claims to be the best democracy in the world, remaining mute at a time when both political parties and social organizations working in the field of refugees in Nepal are demanding Indian intervention.
Famous Indian social activist Medha Pathkar had handed over the letter to Minister Mukherjee. She told that she would continue fighting for the cause of exiled Bhutanese in the days to come.
"Either hold tripartite talks or give exiled Bhutanese a route to return to their homes," said Sunilam, coordinator of the Bhutanese Solidarity.
Those exerting pressure on the Indian government include former lawmaker and socialist leader Surendra Mohan, former minister Satya Prakash Malviya, Janata Dal (United) general secretary Arun Kumar, Yadav Reddy of Congress (I), Uttar Pradesh president of Nationalist Congress Party Ramesh Dixit, Swami Agnibesh, Gautam Noulakha and Ajit Jha of Socialist Jana Parishad.
Pathkar informed that preparations are underway to organize a demonstration on exiled Bhutanese, coinciding with the arrivals of the heads of the states of all SAARC countries in New Delhi. Bhutan News Service