There is also a border dispute between India and Nepal. Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Sunday tried to clarify that the Nepal government had not sought any mediation from Britain to resolve the border dispute with India.
Addressing the first general conference of the ruling Rashtriya Swatantra Party in Chitwan district, PM Shah said, “We had said that if evidence from the period of British rule (in India) was needed, we would present them. We did not seek their mediation.” His statement comes a few days after Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said in Parliament that a Joint Working Group will resolve the issue of cross-border occupation between Nepal and India.
India has rejected the role of third party
Last month, Prime Minister Shah had said in Parliament that Nepal has occupied Indian territories at different places and the Himalayan country has also involved China and Britain to resolve the issue, although his statement had sparked a major controversy in the country. Whereas New Delhi clearly rejected the role of any third party in resolving this dispute.
After the controversy escalated, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said that PM Balendra Shah’s comments were related to ‘no-man’s land’ (land not under anyone’s jurisdiction) between the two countries and cross-border occupation.
Dispute between India and Nepal regarding 3 areas
There is an old border dispute between India and Nepal regarding Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani and both the countries have their own claims on these areas. India says that these areas are part of Uttarakhand and this issue should be resolved through bilateral talks. Whereas Shah told his opponents not to worry about his statements on the border issue.
The Nepali Prime Minister said on Sunday, “We will resolve this issue through talks with our neighbour; there is no need to worry about it.” He also asked people not to “doubt his commitment to nationalism.” He also stressed, “No one should have doubts on this issue.”
He claimed, “We have complete evidence that Kalapani and Lipulekh are part of our territory. If they (India) have any evidence, they can also show it.” The first general conference of RSP started on Sunday in Bharatpur Metropolitan city of Chitwan district.
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