Last month as soon as the news of  Narendra  Modi inaugurating  80 km (50 mile road) Lipulekh Road , which lies at a three way junction with Tibet and china, started doing rounds Nepal called for talks with India .The road serves as the shortest route between Delhi and the Kailash Mansarovar, the Hindu Pilgrimage. It’s also the most feasible trade route between China and India .As per the talks made, solutions were to be sought by way of negotiations. The Govt. of India has been refrained from carrying out any activity  related to the road till then.

The Nepal Government have now passed new Constitutional Amendment Bill in a move to update their National Emblem, which shows the new map of Nepal now including Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura. This bill was passed by 258 members, out of a total of 275 members. Around two-third of the majority  have voted for it. The map  was  passed by the National Assembly, the Upper Chamber of Parliament and approved by Devi Bhandari, Nepal’s President  before making part of the constitution.

Government of India reacted to this by saying that it was totally self-centred and myopic decision on part of Nepal’s Government, as it fails to reflect any type if seriousness .New Delhi on the other hand have always focused on willingness to mutually solve the issue in a conducive environment. This artificial claim by Nepal seem to be not tenable. It’s violative of the understanding of the outstanding boundary talks.

Let’s Jump into History!

Back in the year 1817,Nepal had clanned to the area of Nabhi, Kuthi, Tinkar and Chhangru villages. Tinkar and Chhangru were returned to Nepal since they fell to the east of River Kali, while the other two villages were refused to be returned. According to the then Governor General , and the Treaty of Sugulai, the dispute regarding whether Kuthi, Yanki and Lipugadh stream flows into the Kali River or not, was resolved .But now the current claims  that these three areas are part of Nepal’s Map are contrary to the protocol and treaty signed by China.

At the time when Sonia Gandhi had been denied entry to the Pashupatinath Temple, on grounds that she was not a Hindu, made Rajiv Gandhi impose blockade on Nepal. Since then China used Nepal against us in it’s conspiracy, and the ties worsened between the two countries forever.

Since the two countries  have a 1880 km long open border, Nepal has increased it’s troop presence. Around 30 Indians were planning  to cross the Nepal territory , when the Nepal troop stopped them mid-way and asked them to return. People chose to hurt them by throwing bricks. As a reflect action, 15 rounds of ammunition, out of which 10 rounds were fired in the air. Three Indians got injured , out of which one died. They’ve even detained one person .The Indians are trying to talk to their Nepali counterparts, to solve the matter and not stretch it further.ave

India has been for long supportive of supplying medical aids in the form of hydroxychloroquine tablets, test-kits in the fight towards the Pandemic. All this has led India to a situation, where we’ll have to make a choice between resolving the matter through negotiations , or settle down by talking with Kathmandu. Recent news show that New Delhi is willing to talk to Kathmandu, so they’ve been asked to pause the process of the new Map.

Nepal has no other option than maintain good relation with India , because it is landlocked by India from three sides, and if India reiterates, it would have a adverse impact on the economy of Nepal. China is not an alternative for India, because China accounts for only 14% of the total imports, whereas India on the other hand accounts for nearly two-third of the imports .And, as far as the exports are concerned,India receives around 60 % of Nepal’s export, while China being self –reliant receives just 2% of the total Nepal’s export.