बजट में चीन समर्थक मालदीव की आर्थिक मदद घटाई: पैकेज में 370 करोड़ कम किए; श्रीलंका को अब 4 गुना ज्यादा मदद देगी भारत सरकार

After winning the elections in Maldives last year, President Muizzu came to India for the first time this year during the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget on Tuesday in the Modi 3.0 government. In this, Rs 22 thousand 154 crore has been given to the Ministry of External Affairs. This is about 24% less than the budget of 2023-24.

Last year, Rs 29,121 crore was given to the Ministry of External Affairs. Rs 6,967 crore has been cut from this. In the budget of the Ministry of External Affairs, funds have been allocated for economic assistance to India’s neighboring and friendly countries under the ‘Neighbors First Policy’ and ‘Sagar Mission’.

These include 10 countries including Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Apart from this, there is provision of aid for many African, Latin American and Euro-Asian countries. The highest amount has been given to Bhutan. A package of Rs 2,680 crore has been kept for Bhutan. However, this is about Rs 400 crore less than last year.

There has been an increase in the budget for Sri Lanka and Nepal. In this, the aid to Sri Lanka has been increased more than 4 times from 60 crores to 245 crores. Whereas in Nepal, despite the formation of the government of China-supported KP Oli, the financial aid for the country has been increased from 650 crores to 700 crores.

Indian government will spend 100 crores on Chabahar port
Whereas the package given to Afghanistan, Maldives and Myanmar has been reduced. Last year, Maldives was given aid of Rs 770 crore, while this year it has been reduced to Rs 400 crore. It has been said in the budget that Rs 100 crore will be spent for Iran’s Chabahar port.

With this, the Indian government will spend a total of Rs 4,773 crore to help other countries. Apart from this, despite the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza since October 7, there is no mention of separate financial aid for Gaza or Palestine in the budget.

The biggest cut in Maldives package
The biggest cut in the budget has been made in the package of pro-China Maldives. In 2023, the economic aid for Maldives was increased from 183 crores to 770 crores. Whereas this year it has been reduced to 400 crores. In fact, there is tension between the two countries since the government of Mohammad Muizzu, who ran the ‘India Out’ campaign in Maldives, came to power in November last year.

As soon as he formed the government, Muizzu had announced the withdrawal of Indian soldiers from Maldives. All 88 soldiers returned to India in May this year. Apart from this, after PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep on January 4, Maldives ministers had made objectionable comments on Modi. They had said that India cannot compete with Maldives in terms of service.

After this dispute, there was a huge drop in the number of tourists visiting Maldives from India. Amidst the tension between the two countries, President Muizzu also ended the Hydrographic Survey Agreement with India.

After taking Chabahar port on lease, now Rs 100 crore has been allocated
In the budget, the government has allocated Rs 100 crore for Chabahar Port. Actually, a deal was made between India and Iran on May 13. Under this, India took Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar, Iran on lease for 10 years. Now the entire management of the port will be with India. India and Iran have been working on Chabahar for two decades.

India wants to expand its trade worldwide. Chabahar Port can play an important role in this. With the help of this port, India can trade directly with Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. Iran and India signed an agreement to build Chabahar Port in 2018.

Chabahar is being seen as a strategic port for India as compared to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port. Since the development of this port, it is the best route to send goods to Afghanistan. India is also sending wheat to Afghanistan through this route. Apart from Afghanistan, this port will also open the way for India to Central Asian countries. Gas and oil can also be brought from these countries through this port.