At a press conference yesterday, Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji clarified that the government did not stop the entry and exit points for tourists in Gelegphu and Samdrup Jongkhar.
He said the Indian government has never recognized Gelegphu and Samdrup Jongkhar as an entry and exit points. It is Phuentshogling that has been identified as the entry and exit point. However, the government has requested the Indian counterpart to allow entry and exit till December.
The Foreign Minister said the reason for the Bhutanese to consider Gelegphu and Samdrup Jongkhar as entry and exit point is because until recently the authorities in Assam had not implemented their government’s rule that Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelegphu are not the entry and exit points.
“Because of the National Register of Citizens situation in Assam, they made all their border very strict and then they implemented what was supposed to be implemented. That’s why our tour operators and guests could not enter and exit from Gelegphu and Samdrup Jongkhar. So we had to make a request to the Indian Government to allow exit and entry till December. We didn’t stop, this government has never stopped it. In the bilateral, it’s there that only Phuentshogling is the entry and exit point for tourists other than Bhutanese,” said Dr Tandi Dorji, the Foreign Minister.
Lyonpo said that the government will have to hold a bilateral meeting with India to further discuss this issue and on the need to open entry and exit points. He added that this is the reason why the government wanted to open entry and exit point in Gelegphu and Samdrup Jongkhar by putting in place immigration and customs office from both sides.
Sonam Pem
