Nepal’s Parliament Passes Bill To Include Indian Territory In Its Map

New Delhi: In further escalation of tension in the region, the National Assembly (Parliament) of Nepal has passed the controversial Nepal Amendment Bill (Coat of Arms) showing strategically important Indian territories as parts of Nepal.

With the Upper House of the National Assembly endorsing the map amendment bill (Coat of Arms) proposal unanimously on Thursday, the Himalayan country has confirmed its earlier assertion of ownership over the disputed areas.

The bill, which has already been passed by the lower house unanimously, will now go to the country’s President for consent.

Earlier, the Nepal government had taken the decision to change the country’s map by including the Indian areas at a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The new Nepal map showing seven provinces and administrative divisions including Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura will be published soon, the neighbouring country’s foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali had said in a tweet.

In its reaction to the amended bill, the government of India said this artificial enlargement of claims is not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. It is also violative of the current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues.

The relation between the two neighbouring countries strained last month after Kathmandu protested against the opening of an 80-km road to Lipulekh on the Chinese border by New Delhi. While Nepal has staked its claim over Lipulekh, India has said the road is completely within its territory.

Also Read: Nepal Decides To Include Disputed Areas With India In Its Map