Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah’s declaration that Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory provoked fierce political backlash and protests. Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives and student organizations in Kathmandu immediately rallied, demanding his resignation and accusing him of undermining Nepal’s sovereign border claims.
In the midst of his address to Parliament, PM Shah stated that
India has not only encroached Nepali territory, but,has also encroached Indian territory in many places.
Lawmakers from the Nepali Congress and the Nepal Communist Party accused Shah of weakening Nepal’s longstanding claims regarding the disputed Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura regions.
Opposition MPs demanded that he either substantiate his claims or withdraw his remarks. The unrest subsequently spilled into the streets of Kathmandu, where student groups and youth wings protested at Maitighar Mandala, demanding his resignation.
To contain the mounting domestic outrage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a clarification stating that the Prime Minister’s remarks were primarily referring to minor cross-border occupations and shifting riverbanks in “no man’s land” (dasgaja) areas, rather than a formal, state-sponsored territorial takeover.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi maintained a firm stance that bilateral boundary issues should be handled strictly through established mechanisms withoutll third-party intervention.
Track the evolving political crisis in Kathmandu by following the The Kathmandu Post and stay updated on the bilateral dimensions via The Hindu.
News Edit KV Raman
