Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Asserts Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura Belong to Nepal
On July 22, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stated that the disputed areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura are part of Nepal. During a parliamentary session, he mentioned that Nepal and India have agreed to resolve border issues diplomatically.
Oli emphasized that the Nepali government and its people are united in their stance, referencing the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, which states that territories west of the Mahakali River belong to Nepal. He highlighted that the new political map of Nepal, which includes these areas, was incorporated into the constitution in 2020.
In recent high-level meetings, both countries have committed to resolving border disputes through established mechanisms. The Nepal-India Boundary working group is actively working on regulating border pillars and no-man’s land areas.
The updated map of Nepal, released in May 2020, includes the disputed tri-junction and was prepared with accurate data. This map added 335 square kilometers to Nepal’s territory, including previously omitted villages.
Tensions between Nepal and India escalated after Nepal issued the new map and objected to India’s construction of a road through the disputed area. India maintains that the road lies within its territory, while Nepal insists that the land belongs to them as per the Sugauli Treaty.
Doubts Revealed
KP Sharma Oli -: KP Sharma Oli is the Prime Minister of Nepal, which means he is the leader of the government in Nepal.
Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura -: Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura are areas near the border between Nepal and India. Both countries claim these areas as their own.
Sugauli Treaty of 1816 -: The Sugauli Treaty was an agreement signed in 1816 between Nepal and the British East India Company, which ruled India at that time. It defined the borders between Nepal and India.
diplomatically -: Diplomatically means solving problems through discussion and negotiation between countries, without using force or fighting.
updated map of Nepal -: An updated map of Nepal is a new version of the map that shows the country’s borders. In May 2020, Nepal released a new map that included the disputed areas.
335 square kilometers -: 335 square kilometers is a measure of area. It is about the size of a small city or a large town.
tensions -: Tensions mean feelings of worry and anger between countries. In this case, it refers to the strained relationship between Nepal and India over the disputed areas.