Kathmandu, September 30
Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have once again raised questions over Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s remarks that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory.
Several lawmakers stood before Wednesday’s House meeting had formally begun. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal told them that the session had not yet started.
After the speaker formally opened the meeting, some lawmakers stood again. Aryal allowed one lawmaker to raise the issue.
Shram Sanskriti Party lawmaker Ambika Devi Sangraula demanded a response from the government over Shah’s controversial remarks on the Nepal-India border.
“From this respected rostrum on May 31, the respected prime minister made what we consider a treasonous statement that our country has also encroached on India’s border,” Sangraula said. “We have been demanding for a long time that this statement be corrected from this House.”
She also demanded that the statement be removed from the parliamentary record if the government does not provide clarification.
“As this demand has still not been addressed, when will this question and demand be addressed? When will we receive an answer? I would like to draw the government’s attention through the speaker,” she said.
Shah had responded to questions from lawmakers on May 31, including on the Nepal-India border dispute.
He told Parliament that Nepal had officially sent a diplomatic note to India regarding Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura and had received a response.
According to Shah, the two governments had discussed resolving the issue through talks involving historians, surveyors and people with knowledge of the respective territories.
He also said Nepal had discussed the issue with a third country.
“We have spoken not only with India and China but also with the British government,” Shah had said. “Our position is that since the issue dates back to the time British India left, Britain should also have an interest in it.”
He said the issues would be resolved through diplomatic discussions.
Shah’s response, including his reference to discussions with the British government, had drawn attention both inside and outside Parliament.
The issue was also raised by Shram Sanskriti Party lawmaker Aaren Rai, who asked when citizens would feel that the government was present on the border.
“The problems of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura have continued for a long time, and there are problems along other parts of the border as well. When will ordinary citizens feel that there is a government at the border?” Rai asked.
In response, Shah repeated that the border issues would be resolved through diplomatic table talks.
It was during this response that Shah said he had learned after becoming prime minister that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory.
“You may find one thing surprising. I also learned only after becoming prime minister that India has not only encroached on Nepali land, but Nepal has also encroached on Indian land at many places,” Shah said.
He said both countries should study the issue and resolve it through discussions as friends.
Shah’s statement that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory was subsequently questioned in Parliament and outside it, with opposition parties raising the issue for an extended period.
The issue had recently received less attention from opposition lawmakers. On Wednesday, however, they revived it and demanded either clarification and evidence regarding the statement or its removal from the parliamentary record.
