The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has sought the government's position on India constructing road to Mansarovar of China through Lipu Lekh.
"We are clear that Lipu Lekh is Nepali land. We want the government position on India constructing road to Mansarovar of China through the Nepali land of Lipu Lekh," NC Spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma has tweeted on Saturday.
He has also reminded the government of its responsibility to seek long-term resolution of encroachment of Nepali land through top level diplomatic initiative.
Inauguration of the Indian road via Lipu Lekh on Friday has been widely criticized in the country.
The issue of Indian encroachment of Nepali land came to the fore when India issued its new political map in November 2019 including Nepali land of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura. The inclusion of Lipu Lekh and Kalapani of Nepal in the new political map published by India was widely condemned with the ruling and opposition parties alike protesting the Indian act.
The government claims it has raised the issue with India and it will be resolved through diplomatic channel. But inauguration of the road by India on Friday shows there has been no headway.
The government claims Sugauli Treaty clearly states that Limpiyadhura is the source of Mahakali and hence belongs to Nepal. It also cites the historic evidence pointing that Nepal conducted a census in Kalapani area in 2018 BS and has historical evidence proving Nepal collected tax from the surrounding areas in the past.
The Indian government, meanwhile, claims that the new map does not change the Indian borders with Nepal in any way and accurately depicts the sovereign territory of India.
