Indian Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla has vowed to discuss the issue of the Bhutan gate in the middle of the bordering town of Jaigaon, Alipurduar district, and Phuentsholing, Bhutan with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Barla was elected to the lower house of the Parliament from Alipurduar, West Bengal in 2019 and was included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet in July.
During his maiden visit to Jaigaon on Sunday, Barla met residents and local business community members and said, “I will go to Delhi next month. There, I will meet the external affairs minister and request him to take up the issue with Bhutan. The pandemic situation has improved in both India and Bhutan, and if the gate is reopened, it will help the people of both countries.”
Barla added, “Many people would walk to Bhutan every day from Jaigaon to serve as daily-rated workers. They are sitting jobless now. Most traders have kept their shops closed for months now. Jaigaon used to buzz with commercial activities, but over the past one-and-a-half years, such activities have considerably reduced.”
The Jaigaon Merchants’ Association Secretary, Ramashankar Gupta, said, “Almost 80 per cent of shops are closed now, and many traders, who had come from other states to Jaigaon, were planning to return after selling their shops, houses and belongings.”
The gate, which serves as the entry point to India, was closed by Bhutan in March last year to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a televised address on March 22, 2020, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar said, “We are compelled to take this drastic measure in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you have been made aware through various government bulletins, the virus is spreading, causing immense disruption worldwide, and drawing closer to us each day.”
The decision has negatively impacted commercial activities in the region, as Jaigaon is mainly dependent on Bhutan for trade. Thousands of Bhutanese nationals previously crossed the gate to engage in Jaigaon’s local markets. It has been reported that around 2,000 shop owners and suppliers and 5,500 small traders are dependent on Bhutan.
Until now, the Kingdom has not released any notification regarding the opening of international borders and Bhutan gate, which continues to affect the residents of adjoining areas.
Indian Union Minister Barla Vows to Discuss Bhutan Gate Issue With EAM Jaishankar
During his maiden visit to Jaigaon, Indian Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla vowed to discuss the issue of Bhutan gate with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
August 30, 2021
SOURCE: SANGBAD PRATIDIN