India,Nepal,Bhutan should jointly solve Bhutanese refugee problem

Siliguri, Jan 19 (UNI) Forward Bloc General Secretary Debabrata Biswas today said India, Nepal and Bhutan should jointly solve the problem of the Bhutanese refugees, sheltered at Damakh in Nepal.

After being stopped by police at Panitanki on the Indo-Nepal border in West Bengal while he was on his way to visit the camps in the neighbouring country, Mr Biswas said, '' India, Bhutan and Nepal should jointly come forward to solve this problem, '' and alleged that India's external policy with Bhutan was faulty.

Coming down heavily on the King of Bhutan, Mr Biswas said he was ''befooling'' the people and the recent election in that country was nothing but a ''mockery of democracy''.

Mr Biswas said the Indo-Bhutan Solidarity Forum would launch a concerted movement for taking back the refugees, adding he would raise the issue in Parliament.

'' The status of the refugees is no longer a bilateral issue between Bhutan and Nepal only. The Indian government should also intervene in the matter, as it also leads to social tension in the country, '' the Forward Bloc leader said and lamented the deplorable condition of the refugees.

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