Kathmandu: Amid ongoing criticism by the Opposition in Nepal, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday came to India’s defence over the ‘Akhand Bharat Map’ placed in the new Parliament building.
Nepal’s opposition parties, including the CPN�UML, have opposed the map which shows Nepal as part of the ancient Indian landmass and asked the government in Kathmandu to take up the matter with India.
Addressing the National Assembly on Wednesday, Prachanda, as the Prime Minister is popularly known, said that the map is not political and he had raised the issue during his recently-concluded India visit during which he met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and other top leaders.
“We raised the issue of the new Indian map which is placed in Parliament. We have not made a detailed stud but as reported in the media, we raised this issue on a serious note. But in its response, the Indian side said that it was a cultural and historic map and not a political one. This should not be seen as a political way. It needs to be studied. But I have raised it,” he said.
Prachanda has been facing ire from opposition parties on his India visit which they termed as not successful and productive as the Prime Minister has been claiming otherwise.
Several agreements and understandings were reached during the visit.
Opposition party leaders have been mocking the bringing of 15 Murrah buffalos from India for breeding purposes and termed it as only one successful agreement done in the visit.
Prachanda is also facing strong opposition for his proposal to swap land with India in order to resolve the boundary dispute.
Citing the suggestions from experts, he had said that Nepal and India could swap the land like what India and Bangladesh did reach a land swapping agreement in 2015.
Some experts are suggesting that Nepal can take the “chicken neck” that connects India with Bangladesh in order to resolve the boundary dispute in Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura.
Boundary disputes have been taking place in the areas which are currently under Indian territory.
But the Nepali side has been claiming it as its territory since long.
In response to Indian claims, the Nepal government in 2020 issued a new political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura as its part of territory.
This dispute has brought the bilateral ties to an all time low.
“From the 1950s peace and friendship treaty to the boundary row, during my visit to India, we discussed several issues that matter to us. We want to resolve these disputes and differences through the talks and diplomatic means and for that we need a trust,” the Prime Minister added.
Vance unveils plan for Iran funds, US farm exports
Burgenstock (Switzerland): US Vice President J D Vance on Monday outlined a proposal that could see any future release of frozen Iranian assets used to purchase American agricultural products, presenting...
Trump faces backlash over Iran agreement
Washington: US President Donald Trump's memorandum of understanding with Iran came under sustained bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers, former officials and policy experts questioning whether Tehran had gained more from the...
South Africa eyes stronger economic relations with India as US ties sour
New Delhi: South Africa is looking at strengthening economic ties with India amid the rough patch that Pretoria has hit in its relations with the US, according to an article...
Don’t understand the attitude of the US President, says Italian Minister
Rome: Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has weighed in on the latest feud between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, saying that he did not understand...
Proposed India-Germany submarine deal signals strategic shift in Indo-Pacific: Report
Athens: The proposed India-Germany submarine partnership extends far beyond a conventional defence procurement deal, reflecting a convergence of strategic interests, industrial cooperation and regional security priorities amid a rapidly evolving...
Rights body condemns killing of Sikh couple in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, flags concerns over minority safety
Islamabad: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemned the killing of a Sikh couple who were reportedly serving as caretakers of a gurdwara in Mardan city of the...
Tulsi Gabbard releases declassified documents alleging Fauci influenced Covid origin assessments
Washington: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a trove of newly declassified documents that she said show former top US infectious disease official Anthony Fauci influenced intelligence assessments...
G7 Summit: PM Modi ‘failed’ to stand up for India’s economic interests, says Congress
New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday criticised the takeaways from Prime Minister Narender Modi's participation at the G7 Summit in France's Evian, alleging that he "failed" to stand up for...
PM Modi finds Banaras connection in Bratislava, says ‘art, culture bring people closer’
Bratislava: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted a unique cultural connection between India and Slovakia after witnessing an exhibition on Varanasi at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, saying...
‘Undermines institutional neutrality’: K.C. Venugopal slams Kerala VCs who attended RSS event, demands resignation
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal, on Monday launched a strong political attack on three Kerala Vice Chancellors who attended an RSS centenary-related programme, describing their participation as contravening...
Foreign Secy Vikram Misri highlights indigenisation as key pillar for Rafale deal
Nice: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday highlighted indigenisation as a key pillar of the Rafale fighter jet deal with France, reaffirming India's commitment to defence self-reliance and strengthening domestic...
