Sajha Party has slammed India for constructing road to Mansarovar of China through Lipu Lekh calling it yet another example of Indian bullying.
"India, that has encroached Nepali land at many places six months back claimed ownership of the Nepali land of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura issuing a new map, has constructed that road resorting to additional interference," Sajha has stated issuing a press statement on Saturday. "Sajha Party strongly condemns that."
The statement issued by Deputy Spokesperson Sharad Raj Pathak has reiterated the party's stance that such repeated actions are against international laws and blatant interference on sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nepal. "This clearly is yet another example of bullying attitude that India has repeatedly displayed."
It has also called lack of result-oriented diplomatic dialogue by the government to resolve the issue of encroachment of Nepali land by India unfortunate, and pointed that Nepal's spineless diplomacy is also equally responsible for repeated border encroachment.
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.
