Nepal puts its revised map on hold

The plan of Nepal’s Communist leadership to reportedly officially usher in Nepal’s new political map that consists of areas India considers part of its territory appeared to have hit a temporary roadblock on Wednesday after discussions on the matter were put off for the time being. According to reports, this was done after as Nepalese authorities felt a national consensus was required on the issue, and a two-thirds in the Parliament.

The plan of Nepal’s Communist leadership to reportedly amend the Constitution in Parliament to officially usher in Nepal’s new political map that consists of areas that are part of India appeared to have hit a temporary roadblock on Wednesday after discussions on the matter were put off for the time being. This was done after it was felt by Nepalese authorities that a national consensus was required on the issue, according to reports from Kathmandu and also since a two-thirds majority is required in the Nepalese Parliament to achieve these ends. Indian government sources meanwhile said that New Delhi is closely monitoring the situation and “carefully following developments in Nepal”. Indian government sources pointed out that there is a “larger ongoing debate on this matter” in Nepal which “underlines the seriousness of this issue”. But observers feel that perhaps it will be too early to say that tensions between the two neighbours on the matter will ease anytime soon.

Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli — who is seen as close to China — has made the change in the map a matter of prestige. Nepal claims that as per the Treaty of Sagauli inked more than two centuries ago between British India and Nepal in 1816 after the Anglo-Nepal War, “all the territories east of Kali (Mahakali) River, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh, belong to Nepal”.