The Nepal Parliament on Saturday unanimously passed an amendment bill to change the country’s external boundary on its national emblem that reflects nearly 400sq km of territory on its northwestern border tri-junction with India and China.
The move is expected to further strain relations between the two South Asian neighbours at a time when tension has flared on the border between India and China over disputed territory in Ladakh.
The passage of the bill by all 258 members of the House from all parties was a show of unprecedented unity across Nepal’s political spectrum, and brought together Nepalis for a common cause.
In a reaction Saturday, spokesman Anurag Srivastava of India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that ‘the artificial enlargement of claims is not based on historical fact or evidence and not tenable. It is also violative of our current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues.’
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The unexpectedly rousing speeches in Parliament by Madhesi leaders Rajendra Mahato and Upendra Yadav added to the sense of symbolic national unity.
“We may have our political differences, but let no one doubt our patriotism and nationalism,” said Upendra Yadav of the Social Party. “Those who have sold out the country and instead insult people from the Madhes should apologise to all Nepalis.”
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The remark bridged the mountain-plains divide within Nepal, with leaders of the Madhes coming out even stronger on issues like national unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty than other politicians from the big two political parties.
“Today, the Tarai, Pahad and Himal are one in demanding our territory back. We do not just want our map, we want our land back,” said Rajendra Mahato of the Janata Samajbadi Party, to table thumping. “No one has a monopoly on nationalism. Those who gave away Kalapani when they signed the Mahakali Treaty should be hanged in Tundikhel.”
Sarita Giri of the Janata Samajbadi Party who had tabled a separate bill against the amendment defying a party whip was not allowed by Speaker Agni Sapkota to address the House. Giri walked out of Parliament and complained later that she her right to explain to Parliament her position was violated. Giri has been vociferous in the past weeks in opposing the amendment bill, and had come under blistering attack on social media with demonstrations outside her residence in Kathmandu.
Chair of the ruling Nepal Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the amendment should not be taken as an attempt by Nepal to treat India as an enemy, but to help resolve the dispute through negotiations.
“We do not want to put India in a difficult position, and we know that the only solution is through talks,” Dahal said, adding that republican Nepal was trying to retrieve territory ceded to India by the past monarchy. That part of his comment was widely criticised by supporters of the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and on social media platforms.
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The bill will now go to the Upper House where it is likely to be passed by a required two-thirds majority, after that the map in the national seal will be changed. Leaving Parliament after the voting, Prime Minister K P Oli said: “Now that we have demonstrated national unity on this matter, we will immediately take the process of negotiation forward with India.”
Constantino Xavier, a security analyst with Brookings India tweeted: ‘Clear victory for Oli and his nationalist mojo. India spent too many years wasting scarce resources on micro-managing Nepal politics. Useless, counterproductive.” He urged India not to be ‘petty’ and to ‘ignore the symbolic amendment’.
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