A good neighbour important for happiness: PM

In comments that may be seen as reference to China and Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday night said having a good neighbour is important for a country’s happiness, and in its absence a nation cannot live in peace, despite prosperity.

He made the remarks while reminding Bhutan that one of the factors responsible for its happiness was having a good neighbour like India.

“In the guarantee of happiness, it is important what kind of a neighbour you get. Sometimes you get such a neighbour that in spite of having all the happiness and prosperity, you cannot live in peace,” said Modi while speaking at a banquet hosted by Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.

On a two-day visit here—his first foreign destination since taking over around three weeks ago—Modi reassured Bhutan about continued special treatment by India despite the change of government in Delhi.

Modi assured Bhutan on Sunday night that India is committed to its happiness and progress, specifying areas like peace, security, conservation and tourism for focus of pushing the ties. Speaking at the banquet, he said India and Bhutan are “made for each other”, considering the “glorious” traditional linkages between the two countries. “I said a while back B for B (Bharat for Bhutan and Bhutan for Bharat), I said it just like that, but later I realised that it must be a sign from God that I said it,” he said.

The prime minister underlined that India and Bhutan share not only land boundary but also “glorious cultural traditions”, which makes the relationship unique.