Kathmandu, Aug 22: Leaders of all political parties in the parliament expressed unified voice against the India-China agreement on trade route through Lipulek without Nepal’s consent.
The leaders speaking in the House of Representatives meeting on Thursday urged for mature diplomatic initiatives and all-sides consensus on it. The agreement between India and China on trade via Lipulek has attacked Nepal’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, they said, urging the government to launch both the political and diplomatic efforts for the national interest.
General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa said, “India-China trade agreement via Lipulek is unacceptable. Government needs to take proper initiative based on all-party consensus to deal with this issue. Irrespective of differing views on domestic issues, all parties in Nepal must make a unified position against the use of Nepali territory.”
UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai said the India-China trade agreement via Lipulek is unacceptable for Nepali citizen, government and parliament. “All Nepalis must have single voice for the protection of Nepali land in additional government’s immediate response,” he stressed.
Secretary of CPN (Maoist Centre) Devendra Paudel said entire Nepal should be united to protect Nepali territory- Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani. For it, government requires a diplomatic initiative with all-side consensus. “No impulsive expression but a mature diplomatic deal for it. It must be clearly raised during PM’s imminent visits to India and China,” he added.
In view of Prakash Jwala, Vice Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), this agreement is against panchasheel, and international law. “Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura in the east of the Mahakali River belong to Nepali territory,” he argued, saying that a bold stand is essential for protection of nationality. The India-China trade agreement must be denied, he added.
Janata Samajbadi Party’s lawmaker Ranju Kumari Jha also expressed severe concern over the two country trade agreement that includes the use of Lipulek, a Nepali territory. “Entire parliament’s attention is drawn towards it. Government must take necessary diplomatic endeavour,” she said, pressing government to raise this issue vocally during imminent visit of the Prime Minister Oli to both neighbours.
Lawmaker of Nepal Workers and Peasant Party, Prem Suwal, argued that this problem was recurring because Nepal did not inform the international community about its new map that incorporates Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani.
Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani are Nepali territory: Foreign Ministry
Meanwhile, the government has made it clear that Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani in the east of the Mahakali River belong to Nepali territory.
The Foreign Ministry in a press statement informed that Nepal’s constitution itself has incorporated the official map which has these places in Nepali land.
In response to public concern raised in media on the trade agreement between India and China via Nepali territory, Lipulek, the Ministry urged both sides not to engage in such activity.
The government reminded the intimate, cordial and people-to-people relations between Nepal and India and expressed commitment to resolve this issue through historical facts, maps and verification.
Even the Chinese government was made aware of the territory belonging to Nepal, the statement read. #lipulekh #nepal
