Staff reporter  

More than 800 members of the Indian community in Bhutan gathered at the Indian Embassy in Thimphu to celebrate India’s 77th Independence Day yesterday.  

His Majesty’s representative from the Gyalpoi Zimpon office, Zimpon Ugyen K Namgyel, Cabinet Secretary Kesang Deki, Foreign Secretary Pema Choden, and government officials attended the celebration.

Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela, read excerpts from the address to the nation by President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of Independence Day. One of the key messages was on developmental strides made by India, and its ambition to become a developed nation by the year 2047.   

Ambassador Dalela said that Bhutan and India enjoy long-standing close and unique ties of friendship and cooperation, which are anchored in spiritual and cultural linkages, mutual trust and understanding, and cemented by strong people to people connect.  He said the two countries will continue working together.