New Delhi: After amending the Constitution to adopt the controversial new political map on its national emblem, Nepal has now decided to establish an army barrack near Kalapani and open a road there for easy access, signalling a further deterioration of ties between New Delhi and Kathmandu.
The new map shows three disputed areas of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh as part of Nepal.
Nepal’s move coincides with India’s month-long face-off with China that resulted in a major clash at the Galwan River valley in Ladakh Monday in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed while many were left severely injured.
On Wednesday, Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa had visited the Kalapani border area.
“We are going to establish an army barrack near the border. Now there is no direct road access. So army is given duty to open track. And, we have established BOP (border outpost of Armed Police Force) in Chhangru, near Kalapani,” Bishnu Rijal, deputy chief of the department of foreign affairs & member of the Central Committee, Nepal Communist Party (NCP) told ThePrint from Kathamandu.
This comes a day after Nepal’s upper house of Parliament passed the Constitutional Amendment bill to change its map, and President Bidya Devi Bhandari ratified it the same day. Nepal’s lower house had passed the bill last week.
Sources said India is “infuriated” that Nepal has now gone a step further and decided to station security forces in region, which New Delhi considers to be a “disputed” region between the two.
Official sources said, Oli is doing all this to “further his political agenda”, and he is using the new map as a “tool for political gains”. This, despite Kathmandu contuining to accuse India of not talking with the government there to settle the matter diplomatically.
Last week, Oli had also accused India of “encroaching” on its territory since 1962 by stationing its Army in the Kalapani region. “Our territory should be returned,” Oli said a day after his government tabled a bill in the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, to amend Nepal’s Constitution to include the disputed regions of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani in its official map.
Also read: Nepal’s new map is PM Oli’s ‘tool for political gains’, says Indian official
China-Nepal video-conference on leadership
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of China (CPC) held two virtual meetings with the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Belt and Road Initiative and also on developing leadership skills, diplomatic sources said.
“The High-level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation was successfully held yesterday! Hon. @PradeepgyawaliK Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal also delivered important speech on the occasion. Congrats!,” Hou Yanqi, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal stated in a tweet.
The High-level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation was successfully held yesterday! Hon. @PradeepgyawaliK Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal also deliverd important speech on the occasion. Congrats!?? pic.twitter.com/9SEcmJXCf1
— Ambassador Hou Yanqi (@PRCAmbNepal) June 19, 2020
A similar symposium was also held last year before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit there, the first Chinese head of state to undertake a trip to Nepal after a gap of 23 years.
However, today’s workshop comes at a time when tensions between India and China are at its peak and ties between India and Nepal are at an all-time low.
Also read: Modi said Neighbourhood First and then ranked Nepal low in India’s priority list
India’s strategy is to conquer neighbours and threaten politically, they fund opposition to win elections to stop countries development! Big but bad politics India
Government of India should immediately act on in this issue.
1) Condone in both houses and pass resolution to resist any move by Nepal or any country to even try enter into our territory.
2) Strengthen the border with additional posts and patrolling.
Enough of handling this issue with kid gloves.
India all ready capture Nepal’s land Darjeeling sikking and kumaun gadwal. Nepal is capture it’s own land not a indian land.
Nepal Will Either Get Crushed Under Elephants Feet Or Swallowed By Dragon.
The reality is that the Pakistan, China is taking advantage of the great support they seems to be getting from filthy rich Political parties from India. The hate India, break-India processors, tukkade, tukkade gang seems to be giving a wrong message and igniting our enemies. Never before, in the history of India, Armed forces were given an accountability freedom to safeguard our borders and National interests. Earlier, we have seen videos terrorists, extremists were hitting, beating, pelting stones on our Armed forces. Now our brave forces are empowered, nobody dare to attack them. China also got irked the way we developed infrastructure for strengthening our borders. As in the past, they can not encroach in to our territory. Look at the people, who are aligning with China and Pakistan against our Armed forces. The rusted minds should understand, people are getting more exposed to reality, and support only Nation first agenda. There are filthy rich forces in India with unlimited freedoms to abuse anybody, spread concocted and fake news. Such people seems to have become aimless, powerless, unpleasant, disturbed- lost control in positive thinking.
India has difficult choices as a democracy. How to discipline Nepals corrupt governments without antagonizing it’s people. Relations built on fear is China’s philosophy.
Irrespective of how ‘infuriated’ India is, there is nothing it can do to stop Nepal. The truth is that India’s most allied neighbor is cocking a snook at it. So much for neighborhood first policy. All other neighbors will closely observe this and arrive at their own conclusions. The truth is that the foreign policy of the present government has been nothing more then event management with zero substance. India’s neighbors neither fear it nor does India have anything substantial to offer it’s neighbors other then platitudes of ancient ties etc.
2015 blockade was a criminal act which pushed away all the Nepalese from India, 3m children were at risk and thousands suffered and died, schools were closed, it was a humanitarian crisis post earthquake. India did crime to its small, honest neighbour. It will never be forgotten. Nepal should cut ties with criminals who would go to any lengths for their benefits and continue friendship with China who at least treats as equals. It’s impossible to be worse than India. Indian diplomacy has failed and t has cost them a very traditional friendship
It is only yout perception, not a reality.. Nation knows that Internationaly India is well connected and better accepted and respected. Never before in the history of 70+ years of India, we got such unconditional support from the prospective Nations. China and Pakistan seems to be getting support from our enemies surprisingly from with in. Our brave Armed forces are capable of containing any external threats. You fellows continue to spread negativity.
It is only yout perception, not a reality.. Nation knows that Internationaly India is well connected and better accepted, respected.