Nepalese lawmakers urge govt to diplomatically resolve Lipulekh issue with India
Last Updated:
Kathmandu, Aug 21 (PTI) Nepalese lawmakers on Thursday urged the government to diplomatically resolve the issue of trade between India and China through Lipulekh pass, which it claims as its own territory.
India and China on Tuesday agreed to resume border trade through Lipulekh pass and two other trading points.
The Nepalese foreign ministry on Wednesday objected to the move saying the territory is an inseparable part of Nepal.
India categorically rejected Kathmandu's claims on the territory which it said are 'neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence".
Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, chief whip of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) in the House of Representatives, called on the government to immediately resolve the territorial issue.
Speaking during the emergency hour, he urged the government to take immediate diplomatic steps to settle the matter.
Similarly, chief whip of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Hitraj Pandey demanded a briefing to the House about the recent deal between China and India.
'The move has hurt our sentiment. Our party's serious attention has been drawn to the bilateral agreement between our two friendly neighbours, China and India, for reopening trade routes from Lipulekh pass without informing our country Nepal," Pandey said.
Rastriya Swotantra Party lawmaker Shiva Nepali said, 'Since the matter relating to using Lipulekh and Kalapani territories by neighbouring countries was a serious issue, the government should take the matter seriously and protect our territory." In 2020, Nepal triggered a border row by issuing a political map that showed Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh as part of the country. India had strongly trashed the claims.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday rejected Nepal's territorial claims.
'We have noted the comments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal related to resumption of border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh pass," he said.
'Our position in this regard has been consistent and clear. Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh pass had commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades," he added.
Jaiswal said the trade had been disrupted in recent years due to COVID-19 pandemic and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it.
'As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable," he said.
'India remains open to constructive interaction with Nepal on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy," he added. PTI SBP GSP GSP
view comments
First Published:
August 21, 2025, 19:45 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Loading comments...
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
21 minutes ago
- Mint
Good News for Kolkata commuters! PM Modi to launch Airport Metro, and more on 22 August – Key routes, stations, details
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kolkata on Friday, August 22, to inaugurate and lay the foundation of projects worth ₹ 5,200 crore, including three new metro stretches and an elevated corridor in Howrah, said officials. With the additions, Kolkata Metro, will for the first time in its 41-year journey directly connect the airport with the rest of the city. PM Modi will also take a metro ride from Jessore Road metro station to Jai Hind Bimanbandar station (Airport metro station) and back, reported PTI, citing a Kolkata Metro Railway spokesperson. Prime Minister Modi will inagurate the new Metro stretches around 4;15 pm on Friday. He will also lay the foundation of 7.2-km elevated Kona Expressway worth over ₹ 1,200 crore, which is expected to enhance connectivity between Howrah and Kolkata. 1,200 crore, which is expected to enhance connectivity between Howrah and Kolkata. Following the inauguration, PM Modi will also take a metro ride. The three new metro stations which are going to become operational in Kolkata include: Sealdah to Esplanade – the Green Line – which spans 2.45kms. The metro on this route is expected to reduce the travel time between the two major points of Kolkata from nearly 40 minutes to only 11 minutes. Noapara to Jaihind Bimanbandar – the Yellow Line – which stretches across 6.77km, and is expected to significantly improve access to the Netaji Subhash Chandra International (CCU) airport. Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to Beleghata station (4.3km) metro stretch – the Orange Line – which will play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity with the IT hub. These metro routes which connect some of Kolkata's busiest areas, will bring notable reduction in travel time, and strengthen multimodal connectivity, benefiting lakhs of daily commuters, said officials. Taken together, all the three metro new corridors will add 366 train services daily and raise Kolkata Metro's carrying capacity to nearly 9.15 lakh passengers every day, reported PTI. As per officials, these metro stretches, which spans a will provide seamless connectivity between important points in the city, including Howrah and Sealdah stations, IT hub Sector 5 and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. After the inauguration, PM Modi will also address the gathering at Jessore Road metro station. (with inputs from agencies)
News18
30 minutes ago
- News18
Town planners hold a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding proper regulatory norms
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) Town planners on Thursday held a protest at the Jantar Mantar demanding proper regulatory norms by the Central government for their sector. 'Development in cities without town planners is incomplete. Till now, India does not have a Town Planners Act. We urge the Central government to bring the proper norms at the earliest. 'If our demands are ignored, thousands of town planners will march towards Parliament," Akash Jha, convenor of 'Voice of Planners', said. Holding placards, the protesters raised demands to fill vacant town planner positions across the country, and the establishment of a National Council for Urban Research. PTI SSM ARI Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
'Many So-Called Friends Will Try To Elbow Us Out Of The Room': Smriti Irani's Subtle Geopolitics Message
On India's re-engagement with China, former cabinet minister Smriti Irani said the move to consider "prospective neighbourhood" is "worthy of applause" Former cabinet minister Smriti Irani on Thursday lauded India's leadership for being 'pragmatic, internationally stoic and forceful" in the face of the presently 'complex" geopolitical scenario. Irani, who was speaking at the News18 SheShakti 2025, especially mentioned the statement by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) about the Prime Minister's leadership on the purchase of Russian oil. The Trump administration has imposed a 50 percent tariff on India over crude oil purchase, but India stood firm and said it is an 'unjustified and unreasonable" move. She said India is mindful of the geopolitical intent to push around a country as large as India as a consumption base. 'Looking at the geopolitical order, especially from the perspective of economy and technology, we will be faced with many so-called friends who'll try to elbow us out of the room, who are too used to a subjugated lot. So what you see around us is a recalibration of geopolitical forces," Irani said. '…They've been very pragmatic, very internationally stoic and they've been very forceful in their response specially the MEA statement on the PM's leadership on the purchase of Russian oil, and I believe even the recalibration of neighbourhood ties speaks volumes," she said referring to India's re-engagement with China. Irani further said the move to consider 'prospective neighbourhood" is 'worthy of applause". She said India has negotiators who are not perturbed by the breach in ties, which is compliment to the leadership and the negotiating team. 'I believe that repositioning or relooking at the prospective neighbourhood is worthy of applause. The fact that we're playing our cards close to the chest, the fact that we have negotiators who're not perturbed by just the loudness of the breach of relationships, speaks volumes and is a great compliment to our leadership and negotiating team," she added. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
