By Our Staff Reporter
Bhopal, Sep 20
During discussion with Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan here today, Bhutanese Prime Minister Shri Jigme Y. Thinley described the proposed Buddhist & Indic Studies University at Sanchi as a very good step. Bhutan will extend every possible assistance in this.
Prime Minister Shri Thinley expressed consent to set up a cultural centre with the assistance of Bhutan at Sanchi, which is world-famous for Buddhist Stupa. Welcoming Prime Minister Shri Thinley, the Chief Minister said that the State Government will allot land for this centre. Prime Minister Shri Thinley congratulated people of the state for achieving 12 percent growth rate.
Welcoming Prime Minister Shri Thinley, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that like Bhutan, Madhya Pradesh is agriculture-based state, which has achieved 18 percent agriculture growth rate and 12 percent economic growth rate last year. Congratulating Madhya Pradesh for this achievement, Prime Minister Shri Thinley said that he has heard that the state has witnessed much progress ever since Shri Chouhan became the Chief Minister here. Madhya Pradesh is a
fast-growing and is a peaceful state.
Referring to Bhutan’s Gross Happiness Concept, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that only gross domestic product is not enough for life, but other aspects are also important. Prime Minister Shri Thinley informed that his country’s concept has also been understood by other countries. Besides physical, inner happiness is also important. Bhutan has evolved a new model of economic progress, which has been described as good by United Nations Organisation also.
Prime Minister Shri Thinley said that he is much happy visiting Madhya Pradesh. The Buddhist University being established here will give opportunity of interaction to Bhutanese students. The Chief Minister said that mutual harmony and understanding will get a boost when Bhutanese youths will come here to participate in cultural, spiritual and sports activities.
Prime Minister Shri Thinley said that India and Bhutan have close ties. Talking in Hindi during the discussion, he said that one should improve his language. We get connected with others through our language. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that better results come when the government is compassionate towards the people.
Besides physical development, attention is also being paid to spiritualism in Madhya Pradesh. As a result of it, Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna has been chalked out under which poor senior citizens are sent on pilgrimage free of cost.
Praising Gross Happiness Concept of Bhutan, Shri Chouhan said that this concept should be adopted throughout the world. He said that spiritual peace is necessary with development and therefore, objective of a welfare state should be all-round development of its people. Beti Bachao Abhiyan implemented in Madhya Pradesh has stemmed from compassion towards humanity. He urged to set up a Bhutan Buddhist Study Centre at Sanchi for which the State Government will allot land. Cooperation will also be given if countries like Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia establish their study centres at Sanchi. After discussion, the Bhutanese Prime Minister presented a set of Bhutanese books to Chief Minister Shri Chouhan.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Shri Jigme Y. Thinley has said that Bhopal city is very beautiful and its lake very spacious. If he gets an opportunity, he will come here again. He said that about 50 years ago, his mother had visited Sanchi. She is very happy with my Sanchi visit. Shri Thinley said that Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given a good opportunity to visit Sanchi by inviting him. He is very happy to visit here.
Prime Minister Shri Jigme Y. Thinley had come to Chief Minister’s residence for lunch here today. Governor Shri Ram Naresh Yadav and Speaker Shri Ishwardas Rohani were also present on the occasion. C hief Minister gave a cordial welcome to the guests at Chief Minister’s residence. The Chief Minister said besides state, its people are also very good.
Prime Minister Shri Thinley said that Madhya Pradesh is doing a historic work by establishing Buddhist University. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan informed that the idea of establishing Buddhist University had cropped up in his mind during his Sri Lanka visit. Shri Chouhan said that he wishes to develop Sanchi as a centre of mercy, compassion and peace. He thanked the Bhutanese Prime Minister for sanctioning establishment of a Cultural Centre at Sanchi. Praising Bhutan’s concept of Gross Happiness Growth, Shri Chouhan said that only wealth and material development do not bring about happiness. But religion and spiritualism give happiness and peace. Shri Chouhan informed that Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna and other schemes have been launched in Madhya Pradesh for spiritual bliss of state’s people. Prime Minister Shri Thinley said that wealth is man’s physical and happiness is wealth of heart. Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness has been lauded at United Nations also. This concept is very vital for world peace.
On being asked by Prime Minister Shri Thinley, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan informed that population of Madhya Pradesh is about 7.50 crore and Bhopal 20 lakh. Agriculture is the main occupation here. State’s agriculture growth rate is 18 percent, which is the maximum in the world. Besides, the Chief Minister also gave information about industrial progress of the state. He informed that this is a diamond state of the country. Diamonds are found here. The State has also deposits of aluminium, bauxite, iron ore and other mineral resources. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the State Government has made efforts to ensure welfare of the last person in the last row by adopting ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.
Member of Parliament Shri Kailash Joshi, state BJP president Shri Prabhat Jha, Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Shri Harvansh Singh, Urban Administration Minister Shri Babulal Gaur, Industries Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, Higher Education and Culture Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma, Home Minister Shri Umashankar Gupta, Member of Parliament Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Shri Arvind Menon, Shri Suresh Soni, Shri Ram Madhav, Chief Secretary Shri R. Parasuram and DGP Shri Nandan Dube were also present on the occasion.
Spoke in Hindi
Bhutanese Prime Minister Shri Jigme Y. Thinley talked only in Hindi during discussions at Chief Minister’s residence here this morning.
He said that he gets less opportunity to talk in Hindi. We should preserve our language. Otherwise, we will lose our ideals and language in this age of globalisation. He said that though he does not have much command over Hindi at present, but hopes it will be much improved when he will return to Bhutan from here. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that he was happy to the core of his heart on Madhya Pradesh visit of Shri Thinley.
Warm welcome to Bhutanese PM Thinley
By Our Staff Reporter
Bhopal, Sep 20
A cordial welcome was accorded to Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley on his arrival here today. Governor Shri Ram Naresh Yadav and Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan welcomed the Bhutanese Prime Minister. Culture & Public Relations Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma and Bhopal Mayor Smt. Krishna Gaur were also present on the occasion.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister arrived at Raja Bhoj airport at 11 am. Governor Shri Ram Naresh Yadav and Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan welcomed Prime Minister Shri Jigme Y. Thinley with shawl and coconut. The delegation accompanying the Bhutanese Prime Minister were also welcomed similarly.
The delegation members include Shri Ven Tesgula Lopen Semten Dorji of Bhutan Central Monastic Body, who has mainly come to attend foundation laying ceremony of Sanchi Buddhist and Indic Studies University.
Foundation laying ceremony of Sanchi Buddhist and Indian Knowledge Studies University will be held at Sanchi on September 21 at 11.30 am.
Chief Secretary Shri R. Parasuram, DGP Shri Nandan Dube and other senior administrative and police officers were also present on the occasion.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Shri Jigme Y. Thinley invited Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to visit Bhutan here today. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also invited Shri Thinley to visit Madhya Pradesh again. He urged Shri Thinley to come with family next time. Shri Thinley insisted that first Shri Chouhan should visit Bhutan. Then he will come again. The bilateral cordial invitations were happily accepted by both. Shri Thinly was bid farewell from Chief Minister’s residence after lunch by Governor Shri Ram Naresh Yadav, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan. Earlier, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan welcomed Prime Minister Shri Thinley by offering a Chanderi stoll to him and other guests. He also presented mementoes to them.
