The Lower House of Nepal’s Parliament on Saturday all passed the historic Second Constitution Change Bill ensuring legal status for the upgraded political map of Nepal that includes India’s territories in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.
The ballot in the Pratinidhi Sabha (Legislature) followed day-long discussions, that included appreciation from co-chair of the Nepal Communist Celebration Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” for the Nepalese democracy, which, he said, is reversing centuries of diplomatic humiliation.
Not tenable: India
Responding to the development, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had “kept in mind” the legal process.
” The artificial enlargement of claims is not based upon historic fact or proof and is not tenable. It is also violative of our existing understanding to hold talks on outstanding border concerns,” stated MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.
The territorial dispute originates from the fact that Nepal declares the land to the east of river Kali, which forms the country’s western border. As per Kathmandu’s understanding, the river originates from Limpiyadhura in the greater Himalayas, giving it access to a triangular-shaped land defined by Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh and Kalapani. India opposes the idea and says the origin of the river is much further down, which lowers Nepal’s territorial need.
Saturday’s modification was approved through a voice vote, following which all the members of the Pratinidhi Sabha offered specific signatures to the Costs which completed the ballot procedure.
The ballot showed that members from all the political parties of the Pratinidhi Sabha voted in favour of the movement moved by the government of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
Apart from the judgment Nepal Communist Party, the change got support of the Nepali Congress and the recently formed Janata Samajvadi Party-Nepal.
Also read
