In line with the principle of ‘neighbourhood first’, Delhi is examining a joint proposal to supply electricity to Bangladesh through Indian territory. According to diplomatic sources, positive steps are likely to be taken in this regard. Initially, Nepal plans to export 50 MW of electricity to Bangladesh. The Nepal Electricity Authority (EAC) said permission has been sought from New Delhi to use India’s existing electricity transmission infrastructure. An agreement was signed between Bangladesh and Nepal in August.
According to the sources, India will meet with the concerned officials of Nepal in New Delhi next month. The agreement in this regard may be finalized in that meeting. Bangladesh has also requested India’s cooperation in energy trade. New Delhi was requested in this regard during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India last September. Bangladesh currently imports 1160 MW of electricity from India. Dhaka aims to build 683 MW Sankoshi-3 hydropower project in joint venture with Nepal. India’s cooperation is needed in this work.
Bangladesh vote is approaching. A new government led by Maoist leader Prachanda has been formed in Nepal. Keeping these two countries in its friendly axis is the priority of the Modi government in the overall geopolitics of South Asia. Besides, India wants to cooperate with Nepal on a large scale in the field of energy. Prachanda expressed his desire to come to New Delhi on his first foreign visit after becoming the Prime Minister of Nepal. Keeping China in mind is also part of New Delhi’s strategy to gradually increase energy alignment with Nepal.
Congress’s criticism on debt increase
Congress attacked the Modi government over the rising debt in the economy. The opposition on Sunday alleged that the country’s per capita debt has increased more than two-and-a-half times in the nine years since Narendra Modi first became Prime Minister in 2014. If the total debt of the country is divided by the population, it was 43,124 rupees at that time. As of March 31, that loan is going to be rupees 1,09,373. They criticised, the Modi government is drowning the next generation.
Along with that, the opposition has pointed out the Oxfam report about the increase in unemployment and increasing financial inequality during Modi’s tenure. In a tweet, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked, “How did the assets of the Prime Minister’s ‘favorite friend’ increase eight times during the Corona period? How did it see a 46 percent increase in a year or so?”
Wrapping up
Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh claimed that India’s total debt in March 2014 was 55.87 lakh crore rupees. It may be 155.31 lakh crore on March 31. He claimed that the BJP government has not only imposed a huge debt burden on the people of the country. Their various policies have also reduced demand post-corona, especially for middle-class and low-income families. It was 9.7% in the second quarter from 25.9% in the first quarter of the current financial year. Although the Center claims, India has become the fifth largest economy in the world economy.