Nepali Congress (NC) Spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma has said Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli should talk directly with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi about encroachment of Nepali land at Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh by India.
"President of the main opposition party Sher Bahadur Deuba phoned Indian ambassador to Nepal and took exception to the Indian map pointing that at Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh are parts of Nepal," Sharma said interacting with journalists in Pokhara on Monday. "PM was told in the all-party meeting to take initiative to resolve the border dispute but nothing has happened in so many days. Did the Foreign Ministry summon the ambassador from the Indian Embassy nearby in Lainchaur? The government did not hold discussion."
He accused the government of issuing statements on the border dispute only for media consumption. "Statements have come on Kalapani issue for media consumption. Should the person who wished the Indian PM on his birthday in different languages not make a direct phone call?" he fumed. "Not a single phone call has been made to Modi from Kathmandu in so many days."
Sharma clarified that Deuba was just expressing suspicion when saying India issued the new map after consulting PM Oli. "President expressed suspicion whether it may have been done in connivance with PM Oli. This is not the party's conclusion and merely the president's suspicion," he opined.
He demanded that Nepal issue a map including the land encroached by India. "Printing and issuing a map may not be a big deal but what can we expect from the government that cannot even issue an official map of the country?" he asked.
He added that NC will issue the map if the government does not issue one including the land encroached by India within three days.
