Following the “new map” that claims parts of Indian territory, now Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Oli has made objectionable statements against India. In his speech to the Nepali Parliament, KP Oli made a disputed statement about India, overcoming diplomatic decorum. The Nepali PM blamed India for the spread of coronavirus in his country, saying, “India’s virus seems to be” more deadly “than Chinese and Italian.
The Nepali PM said in his speech on Tuesday, ‘Those who are coming from India by illegal means are spreading the infection of Corona here and some local leaders and representatives are also responsible for this, without any primary investigation, people from India are getting in.
The Nepali PM further said, ‘Due to the influx of people coming from outside, it is becoming difficult to deal with the Coronavarius infection. Indian virus seems more deadly than Chinese and Italian virus. The Nepalese PM’s statement has created a rift in the relationship between the two countries after India inaugurated the road. Oli also said that Nepal would bring back the “Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh region”, which is part of the Indian territory.
Recently, the Nepal cabinet released a new political map incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, which are part of Indian territory. India and Nepal share 1,800 km (1,118 mi) of open border. Nepal on the Lipulekh Pass defines based on the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816. Kathmandu also claims highly strategic areas of Limpiyadhura and Kalapani, although Indian troops have been stationed there since India fought a war with China in 1962.
A new road by the Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on 8 May (from Kailash Mansarovar Road in China to Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand Connects), Nepal had opposed it and is also considering setting up a security checkpoint in the area. Indian Foreign Ministry had said that this road going from Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand is completely within the Indian border. This is the same road that Kailash Mansarovar travelers have been using before.
