Nepalese PM, trapped in political crisis, claims rights over Indian territory

Kathmandu: – Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had initiated steps to improve relations with India. But the Nepalese Prime Minister, known for his pro-China disposition, seems to be living up to his reputation. Prime Minister Sharma Oli announced, ‘Nepal will take back Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, which are under Indian control.’ Saying that the previous Prime Ministers did not dare to talk against India, the Nepalese Prime Minister bragged that he would regain these parts from India through political negotiations. Therefore, it seems the Nepalese Prime Minister has still not come out of Chinese influence.

The Nepalese Prime Minister bragged about this while speaking in the upper house of the Nepalese parliament. Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura are parts of Nepal and not India. Sharma assured that he would make the necessary efforts to take these parts back from India. Sharma Oli also remarked that the inclusion of these parts into the Nepalese map had not gone down well with some people. Sharma Oli has expressed confidence that he will achieve through political negotiation, what the previous Prime Ministers could not achieve. The Nepalese Prime Minister is trying to prove here that he is a nationalist of the highest order. A few months ago, the Chinese military had acquired a few Nepalese villages by intruding into the Nepal border. Sharma Oli was in trouble when the Nepal population started making noise over the Chinese intrusion. The Nepalese protestors began demanding that the land acquired by China should be taken back before raising a border dispute with India. Severe differences surfaced even in the ruling coalition over this, and succumbing to this pressure, Sharma Oli was forced to take specific steps to improve relations with India. After that, Sharma Oli indicated a change in his stand by refusing to meet the Chinese Defence Minister who had come on a Nepal visit.

But the differences between the members of the ruling coalition intensified further and Prachanda, a leader of the other party in the coalition, withdrew support to the Sharma Oli government. After this, Prime Minister Sharma Oli recommended dissolution of the parliament to President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Elections will soon be held in Nepal, and there is no possibility of defamed Sharma Oli emerging victorious. Therefore, a Chinese delegation was sitting in Nepal to try and save his government. But all these Chinese efforts failed. While his political future hangs in balance, Sharma Oli is desirous of challenging India by raising Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura issue.

The Chinese interference in Nepal is becoming a cause of concern for the entire country. But India has adopted a neutral stand saying that Nepal’s political developments are an internal matter of Nepal. This highlights the difference in the attitude of the two countries.