Nepal snubs Bhutan over Jigme's carnation

In an apparent snub to Bhutan, Nepal did not congratulate it's neighbour over the three-day coronation ceremony of the Druk kingdoms new king Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.

In an apparent snub to Bhutan, Nepal did not congratulate it's neighbour over the three-day coronation ceremony of the Druk kingdoms new king Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.

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The relations between the two neighbours are on low as Thimphu has not agreed to repatriate the over 108,000 Bhutanese refugees residing in eastern Nepal camps for nearly two decades. Talks over the issue have failed to break much ice.

Interestingly Nepalese leaders were not invited for Jigme's three day coronation ceremony. While Nepal's ruling Maoist leaders regards Bhutan a feudal country. Nepal in an historic election this year overthrew the 240-year old feudal monarchy.

After sixteenth rounds of ministerial talks held between the two countries failed to bring results, Nepal government agreed to the offer made by United States and other western countries for third country resettlement of the refugees.

The US has agreed to take more than 60,000 Bhutanese refugees under third country settlement programme and some 5,000 refugees have already been sent to the country, Canada and Australia as per the decision.

However, India's top leaders including President Pratibha Patil, External Affairs Minister Pranav Mukherjee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were among the foreign dignitaries who were invited at the function. Bhutan for the first time held its parliamentary election with the promise to restore democratic rights to the people.

Meanwhile President and Prime Minister of Nepal today greeted king Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Kingdom.