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Belarus–India relations

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Belarus-India relations
Map indicating locations of Belarus and India

Belarus
India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus–India relations are the bilateral ties between India and Belarus. Belarus has an embassy in New Delhi whilst India has an embassy in Minsk. Both countries are members of the Non Aligned Movement.

History

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Both India (British Raj) and Byelorussia were the founding members of the United Nations. India was one of the first few countries to recognise Belarus' independence.[citation needed]

Energy Cooperation

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India has participated in the reconstruction of power facilities in Belarus for energy generation and transmission. An Indian company Bharat Heavy Electricals worked on similar project in the Grodno power plant.[1] Other agreements include exploration of energy resources in Belarus and in electrical equipment.

Economic relations

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MoUs have been signed in the field of Trade and Commerce. Belarus has Potash mines which is used in pharmaceutical and fertilizer industry which is big part of India imports. A MoU was signed between Bureau of Indian Standards and Belarus' State Committee for Standardization to cooperate in the field of standardization. Some others include that on broadcasting, textiles, manufacturing and defense.[2][3] India and Belarus also have set a trade target of US$1 Billion, to be achieved by 2018.[4] India is also involved in seeking investment and resources through Belarusian route for developing smart cities.[5] Other terms include improving the manufacturing sector and increasing skill development and considering Swach Bharat initiative by improving sanitation and cleanliness. The India CIS Chambers of Commerce and Industry was formed to devise correct policies and monitor the trade relations between the CIS states including Belarus and India.[6]

Other Inclinations

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Belarus supports India at the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) and for the permanent membership in United Nations Security Council. India supports Belarus for its membership in the NAM (Non-Alignment Movement) and in IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union).[7]

State visits

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During the visit of Pranab Mukherjee, the president of India, in June 2015, many agreements were signed which include exchange of students and promotion of tourism.[8] It also included science & technology cooperation.

Culture and education

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The cultural relations between both countries were established from the time when Belarus was part of Soviet Union. India's national poet Rabindranath Tagore visited Minsk in 1931 where he met with other intellectuals. The musician, Nicholas Nabokov, visited India in the 1960s and was impressed by India's musical traditions.[9][10]

Religion
Main article: Hinduism in Belarus

Hindu religion believers in Belarus face problems exercising their freedom of religion rights. According to United States Department of State, Belarusian International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) activists fear to register their communities because of possible fraud and revenge from authorities.[11] In 2003, activists of Belarusian branch of ISKCON issued a statement against defamation of their religion in Belarusian school textbook. ISKCON communities were accused of fooling the believers (an offensive word "making-blockhead" was used in the textbook), and it was stated that Krishnaite believers need a psychiatrist assistance to return to "real life".[12] In 2016, ISKCON activist in Homiel was fined for outdoor religious activity.[13] According to Human Rights Watch, arbitrary arrests of ISKCON activists and other Hinduists are regular.[14]

In July 2021, Belarusian authorities launched an attack on non-governmental organizations, and among NGOs forcibly closed by Ministry of justice was "Vedanta vada" (Russian: Веданта вада) Hinduist cultural and educational organization.[15] "Vedanta vada" was based in Mahilioŭ and was active in promoting Indian culture and religion.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Astreiko, Marta (1 June 2015). "Pranab Mukherjee: India intends to take relations with Belarus to a higher trajectory | Latest events in Belarus - Speeches & Interviews". www.belarus.by. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  2. ^ "India, Belarus agree on road map for stronger ties". The Hindu. 4 June 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  3. ^ ""India is top priority for Belarus"". The Hindu. 16 April 2007. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  4. ^ "India and Belarus set a Trade Target of US$1 Billion by 2018". pib.nic.in. 8 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Belarus to spend $170m borrowed from India on 22 projects". eng.belta.by. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  6. ^ "India Belarus Trade Relations". business.mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Sweden, Belarus support India's Permanent Membership in UNSC: Pranab". ebangla.in. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  8. ^ "India, Belarus to enhance bilateral ties". timesofindia-economictimes. PTI. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  9. ^ "President of India on an official visit in Belarus". tvr.by. 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Indian President on first official visit to Belarus". charter97.org. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  11. ^ "В России, РБ, на Донбасе продолжаются преследования верующих" [Persecution of believers continues in Russia, Belarus, and Donbass]. slavicsac.com. 11 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Все верующие вайшнавы Беларуси, представители одной из самых древних религиоз-ных традиций индуизма, выражают свой протест в связи с опубликованием в учебном пособии для 11 классов общеобразовательных школ сведений, порочащих как в целом указанную традицию, так и международную религиозную организацию вайшнавов – «Международное общество сознания Кришны»" [All Vaishnava believers of Belarus, representatives of one of the most ancient religious traditions of Hinduism, express their protest in connection with the publication in a textbook for 11th grade comprehensive schools of information that discredits both the said tradition as a whole and the international religious organization of Vaishnavas – the “International Society for Krishna Consciousness”.]. spring96.org. 15 April 2003.
  13. ^ Гомель: кришнаита судили за религиозные песнопения на улице
  14. ^ РАЗВИТИЕ СОБЫТИЙ В ОБЛАСТИ ПРАВ ЧЕЛОВЕКА
  15. ^ За паўдня Мінюст ліквідаваў больш за 40 грамадскіх арганізацыяў. Сярод іх – «Бізнес школа ІПМ», Press Club Belarus, «Мова Нанова»
  16. ^ "Веданта Вада". Харе Кришна в Могилёве
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