INDIA-NEPAL BORDER DISPUTE

Indo-Nepal relations have been exceptional since ages with cooperation and trust. Both Indians and Nepalese people can work and stay without a passport in either of the nations, which has emboldened the bond between the two nations and established a grip which has been a catalyst for the inter-cultural connection for people living on both sides of the border. But, in recent times the relationship between the two nations has become strained and cynical. There has been a proper amount of chirping and hooting from both sides of the border, with the Prime Minister of Nepal blaming India for spreading the Coronavirus in Nepal and occupying a region that belongs to them in their view. 

PM OF NEPAL: KP SHARMA OLI

The controversy hit the headlines a few days back when Nepal launched its new map which included Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura in its territory, which was not included before, as it came under Indian occupation. The sites are present on the eastern tip of Uttarakhand in an area of 335 sq km. Both Nepal and India have claimed the region to be theirs. The controversy can be traced back to November, 2019, when the Modi government released a map which included Kalapani in Indian territory, to which the government of Nepal was dissatisfied. Another event took place on 8th May, 2020 when Rajnath Singh inaugurated a road to Lipulekh parallel to the India-Nepal Border. The road which was built for Kailash Mansarovar Yatris, angered the Nepal government, as it was built without their consent and agreement, as they believe Lipulekh to be a part of their territory. This resulted in a protest break out across Nepal on 15th May, 2020 to which the Indian army chief foolishly accused China of inciting pressure on Nepal (statement possibly given after political pressure from center). This antagonized the Nepal government even more which resulted in the release of a new map which included the sites of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. 

KALAPANI ON MAP

NATHU LA ROUTE (ROAD BUILT FOR KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRIS)

CONCLUSION   

From a geographical point of view, the Sugauli treaty was the last treaty signed between India and Nepal on the issue of border and territory sharing. The treaty gave the sites to Nepal based on the division made by the Sarda river which runs between India and Nepal on the eastern side. From a historical and practical point of view, the sites should be under Indian occupation, as since centuries Nepal has accepted the sites to be Indian and none of the monarchs of Nepal have ever interrogated India on this issue (Nepal was a monarchy till 1990).

The situation has led to a baseless and ugly discourse on twitter, where people suffering from the jingoism virus spread by right-wing premiers have come down as an entourage to attack the people of Nepal by calling them names with a slew of racial slurs while banking on their age-old habit of pulling in China in every issue. Twitter warriors have accused China of buying the people of Nepal in the same way the ruling party purchases MLA’s and Journalists. What is required at this hour, is for the Indian and Nepalese government to hold deliberations and talks, as both the nations are a part of the same ecosystem and at the end of the day if this situation is not solved civilly with intellectual discourse from both sides, only perilous politicians and freeloaders will profit off it while hate fueling mongers will satisfy their nasty egos as they will fill the walls of social media with their repugnant rants.

Written by Team PublicTunes

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