Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath's comments on Nepal are condemnable and India's claim on the Kalapani region is based on unsound facts, Prime Mnister K.P. Sharma Oli said on Wednesday in the House of Representatives, the lower House of the Nepalese parliament.
“Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Adityanathji has said certain things about Nepal. His comments are inappropriate and not legitimate. He is not in a decision-making capacity in the Central government of India. His comments are in the capacity of a chief minister and these should not have been made. If he is trying to threaten Nepal with these comments, this is condemnable. His remarks showed disrespect to Nepal. I want to tell Yogiji that Nepal does not accept these insults”, he said.
Speaking on Nepal’s claim on the Kalapani region, Mr. Adityanath said last week, “Before determining political boundary, Nepal should think of the long-term consequences and it should also remember what happened to Tibet”.
Mr. Oli said the issues confronting India-Nepal ties were not for him to comment upon. “If India shows more willingness for dialogue, a solution can be found.”. He argued that his government was focused on resolving the Kalapani dispute.
“Since 1961 and ‘62, India has stationed its military forces in Kalapani. But that land belongs to us. India is showing an artificial Kali river as the basis of its claim on the region. They have also built a temple of Goddess Kali in that area which belongs to us. But our claim is based on historical documents and facts”, Mr. Oli said in reply to queries from MPs on the Second Constitution Amendment that will give legal status to the new map of Nepal that claims Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura.
Kali river issue
The competing claims over the strategically located Himalayan region of Kalapani is based on the origin of the Kali river. Nepal claims the river begins at Limpiyadhura in the higher Himalayas that gives it access to a triangle-shaped land mass that also includes the Lipulekh pass. India says the river originates not at Limpiyadhura but at a point further down.
Mr. Oli said there were other disputes with India on border, especially at Susta on the U.P.-Bihar boundary but his government wanted to settle the Kalapani issue first. “Kalapani is the main dispute and we are confident that we will get our land back through diplomatic means as we have the evidences to prove that Nepal is the real owner of that area”.
The Prime Minister’s speech and response to questions are a part of the consultation process on the Second Constitution Amendment, which has drawn cross-party support in the lower house and is expected to be passed after some procedural discussions. Mr. Oli sought support for the new map, saying the political class of Nepal should display unity on issues that were of national importance. “You should support in one voice when the country’s sovereignty, geographical integrity and independence are in question”, he observed.
