India rejected Nepal’s constitutional amendment to change its map on the national emblem to include Indian territories, saying it was not “tenable”, amounts to an artificial enlargement of its claims and also violates the understanding that talks should sort out boundary issues.
In a strongly-worded statement after Nepal’s lower house unanimously passed the constitutional amendment, the MEA spokesperson said, “This artificial enlargement of claims is not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. It is also violative of our current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues." For the second time in five years, the India-Nepal relationship is in a serious crisis with the Left unity K P Sharma Oli government steering a constitutional amendment to Schedule 3 to "update" the national emblem by incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani in Nepal’s map. Saying India has already clarified its position, India told Nepal it would refuse to hold boundary talks after the passage of this amendment.
Nepal’s foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali tweeted, “The House of Representatives unanimously adopted the Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for accommodating the updated political-administrative map in the national emblem.”
Map move comes after inauguration of Lipulekh road
The Indian government has maintained a studied silence on the issue after MEA stated last week that India would not accept unilateral changes in Nepal’s map. In fact, this week, the government emphasised the “close and civilisational” ties between the two countries. Earlier, the Indian army chief, Gen M M Naravane avoided any implied reference to a foreign power in the situation, saying, “We have a very strong relationship with Nepal. We have geographical, cultural, historical, religious linkages. We have very strong people to people connect. Our relation with them has always been strong and will remain strong in the future.”
On the face of it, the Oli government took its present stand following the inauguration of the road to Lipulekh by India. But a couple of weeks ago Gen Naravane said Nepal was raising issues on Kalapani at “someone else’s behest”. There was unhappiness in the Nepal’s armed forces,who have generally kept a low profile on the growing dispute,with Gen Naravane's statement.
In the past few days, sources say there has been some consternation in Nepal regarding India’s continued silence on the issue. India has refused to hold talks with Nepal while the Oli government pushed through the constitutional amendment. “We will not talk with a sword over our heads,” sources here said.
The unfortunate reality, according to government sources, is that India believes Nepal’s PM wants to fundamentally transform ties with India and this might be in alignment with his proximity to China that has worked actively to save his government against dissent within its ranks.
Added to this is his Communist politics blends better with China, allowing him to use their deeper pockets to offset Indian influence as well as be a bargaining chip with India. The Modi government has made much of the Hindu-ness of Nepal being a natural “fit” with India. Neither Oli nor the younger generation Nepali actually see it in this light.
The India-Nepal bilateral ties came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory.
Nepal last month released the revised political and administrative map of the country laying claim over the strategically key areas, more than six months after India published a new map in November 2019. India had then sternly asked Nepal not to resort to any "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims.
