The Indian side builds a road in the Liplek area of the disputed nepalese-Indian territory.
On January 16, in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement that India would continue to build roads in the Lipulek area of Nepal's disputed territory, Nepal's government spokesman and Minister of Information Technology and Communications, Kaki, said that the Nepalese government had urged the Indian government not to unilaterally carry out infrastructure construction or road expansion on Nepalese territory. Kaki also stressed that the Government of Nepal absolutely clearly and firmly believes that Limbiadullah, Lipplek and Kalapani, east of the Mahakali River, are the inalienable territories of Nepal.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a rally in Uttarakhand on December 30 last year, saying the Indian government had built a road in Liplek and that some expansion works were underway, according to nepalese media Himalaya Times.
Modi's remarks have caused great indignation in Nepalese society. Nepal's ruling coalition member CPN (a united socialist) publicly condemned Modi's remarks on January 10. Former Prime Minister Kanel, director of the party's international department, expressed strong condemnation of the ongoing road construction, believing that any development activities in these places without the consent of the Nepalese government are illegal and a flagrant violation of Nepal's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and Kanel asked the Nepalese government to take the necessary measures to protect Nepal's territory on the border.
On January 11, the communist party of Nepal (UNITED MARXIST-Leninist), the largest party in Nepal's parliament and currently in opposition, also issued a statement demanding that India cease similar violations of Nepal's sovereignty, territorial integrity and dignity. Rajan Batrai, director of the International Department of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), also recalled the firm position shown by the party on the Indian side to reclaim the relevant territories when it came to power, and expressed concern about the silence of the current government on issues concerning territorial integrity.
On the evening of the 14th, two secretaries-general of nepal's Congress party, Tapa and Sharma, the two secretaries-general of Nepal's Congress Party, issued a joint statement: "India should withdraw its troops from Kalapani. The construction of this road is a sensitive and objectionable issue and should be stopped immediately."
The Kathmandu Post reported on Jan. 15 that almost all political parties in Nepal, including the Congress, have asked the Modi government to issue a statement to take a stand on Liprek. In this regard, on January 15, a spokesman for the Indian Embassy in Nepal said: "The position of the Indian government on the Indonesian border issue is well known, consistent and clear, and has been conveyed to the Nepalese government."
Author: Ning Lin
Editor: Liu Chang
Photo: Himalayan Times, Times of India