03-15-2006, 09:25 PM
<b>With regard to the observations made by Ramana I would like to make the following submission.
The proposal of having the Mynmar-India gas line through Bangladesh was floated by the Indians, just to see the reaction of the Bangladesh Government. Unfortunately, the successive Governments in New Delhi have tried to show benevolence to its Eastern neighbor but it has never been acknowledged by the other side. We Indians are in the habit of repeating our mistakes time and again while dealing with Bangladesh. There is absolutely no problem in transportation of natural gas or petroleum from Myanmar into India either by a pipeline or by sea. Both countries have along land border and ships can sail between ports of Myanmar and the East coast of India without any likely interference from the tiny Navy of Bangladesh.
With regard to the religious background of Myanmar, I would like to mention that Buddhism is the official religion of the country. However, they have a Department in the Ministry of the Interior which is responsible in running the administrative affairs of almost 300 Hindu temples dotted all over the country. The Government notifications that are issued by the Military Government always mention the date in the Saka era. Whenever the Army is engaged in search operations, its troops always enter the Hindu temples in bare foot even in the dead of the night. The Govt of Myanmar is much more Hindu in character than perhaps many State Governments in India. Diwali is a National Holiday in Myanmar.</b>
The proposal of having the Mynmar-India gas line through Bangladesh was floated by the Indians, just to see the reaction of the Bangladesh Government. Unfortunately, the successive Governments in New Delhi have tried to show benevolence to its Eastern neighbor but it has never been acknowledged by the other side. We Indians are in the habit of repeating our mistakes time and again while dealing with Bangladesh. There is absolutely no problem in transportation of natural gas or petroleum from Myanmar into India either by a pipeline or by sea. Both countries have along land border and ships can sail between ports of Myanmar and the East coast of India without any likely interference from the tiny Navy of Bangladesh.
With regard to the religious background of Myanmar, I would like to mention that Buddhism is the official religion of the country. However, they have a Department in the Ministry of the Interior which is responsible in running the administrative affairs of almost 300 Hindu temples dotted all over the country. The Government notifications that are issued by the Military Government always mention the date in the Saka era. Whenever the Army is engaged in search operations, its troops always enter the Hindu temples in bare foot even in the dead of the night. The Govt of Myanmar is much more Hindu in character than perhaps many State Governments in India. Diwali is a National Holiday in Myanmar.</b>