India-Bhutan ties a "model relationship": Mukherjee

In an interview to Bhutan Broadcasting Service on the eve of his two-day visit to the Himalayan state, 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.

Asked about bureaucratic hurdles coming in the way of disbursement, he said "we have to follow certain financial rules and regulations. These rules and regulations are meant to ensure that money is being properly disbursed and disbursed money properly used so that there is no delay in implementing the projects in time."

"India-Bhutan relations is a model relationship amongst neighbours," the President said, adding "mutual trust and confidence have helped build close relations between India and Bhutan." Mukherjee noted that democracy has taken deep roots in Bhutan and almost 3/4th of Bhutanese student population are studying in India.

Talking about joint developmental projects, the President said these projects, including those in hydroelectric power sector, "have brought us closer".

"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, who leaves for Bhutan tomorrow, told the Broadcasting service.

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Cabinet expansion on Sunday; Parrikar says party asked me to take up assignment at Centre

Indications are that the reshuffle could take place around 1.30 PM on Sunday, two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves on a three-nation 10-day tour. By then, President Pranab Mukherjee would have also returned on Saturday from a trip to Bhutan.
  
There is a possibility some ministers with independent charge could be elevated in the first recasting of his ministry Modi will be undertaking since he assumed power in May.
  
Parrikar, who is tipped to get defence portfolio, went as far as to indicate the sure possibility of his induction when he said he will take up the responsibility at the Centre "if the nation requires" his services.
  
Among the names doing the rounds for induction are Jayant Sinha, son of former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, Anurag Thakur from Himachal Pradesh, Jat leader from Haryana Birender Singh, Bhumiar leader from Bihar Giriraj Singh or Bhola Singh, Col Sonaram Chaudhary and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, both of Rajasthan, and Hansraj Ahir from Maharashtra.
  
The IIT-Mumbai graduate and a man with a clean image, Parrikar had a meeting with Modi and BJP President Amit Shah yesterday and he met party MLAs in Panaji today, possibly discussing his successor.
  
He said Shah had asked him to take up an assignment at the Centre, if offered, and made it clear that he was willing to shoulder the responsibility.
  
"Party President Amit Shah spoke to me in the morning and asked me to accept any assignment that would be given by the Prime Minister," he told reporters.

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