GUWAHATI: As Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk is set to make his first official visit to Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday, conveyed the eagerness of the people of Assam to welcome the monarch.
Chief Minister Sarma expressed the significance of the unique relationship between India and Bhutan, highlighting how it has grown stronger over time.
“Bharat and Bhutan share a unique relationship which has strengthened with the passage of time. For centuries, knowledge and education have been central to this special bond. Tomorrow, we in Assam, eagerly look forward to welcome His Majesty, the King of Bhutan on his first official visit to our State. This visit will further deepen the friendship between the two countries,” he wrote on a widely used micro-blogging website.
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He also emphasised that the visit of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan, to Assam would further deepen the friendship between the two nations.
The Bhutanese monarch, accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema and their two sons, is embarking on a private visit to Assam. On Thursday, the Deputy Commissioner of Traffic imposed vehicular restrictions on commercial vehicles on National Highway 27 and 17 within Guwahati City. These restrictions will be in effect from 7 am to 11 pm tomorrow and from 6 am to 12 noon on Saturday.
The royal itinerary includes a visit to the Kamakhya Hills, participation in a cultural programme organised by the Assam government, and a dinner hosted by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, scheduled for November 3.
On November 4, the royal family is set to explore the Kaziranga National Park, renowned for its one-horned rhinos.
Chief Minister Sarma will also host a dinner in their honour on the following day. The King and his family are expected to return to Bhutan on November 5.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Assam Cabinet approved the reservation of five seats in the state’s medical colleges for Bhutanese students on the occasion of the King’s visit.
Tourism Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah had made the announcement during a press meet following the weekly cabinet meeting informing that two seats will be reserved in Nalbari Medical College, one in Barpeta Medical College, and two seats in BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) college.
