KATHMANDU: The UML has expressed serious objection to Prime Minister Balen Shah’s remarks in the Federal Parliament regarding Nepal’s border with India, describing the statement as baseless, irresponsible and contrary to national interests.
In a statement issued on Monday, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel criticized the Prime Minister’s claim that “Nepal has also encroached on Indian land,” arguing that the comment undermines Nepal’s long-standing national position and diplomatic claims on border issues.
The party said matters relating to national borders and sovereignty are not concerns of any single government or political party but are shared national interests of all Nepalis. It maintained that the Prime Minister’s remarks had weakened Nepal’s established stance on territorial disputes.
The UML statement recalled that on May 20, 2020, under the leadership of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepal issued a new political and administrative map incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani into its territory.
According to the party, the revised map was based on historical records, cartographic evidence, treaties and other available documentation. It noted that the map was unanimously endorsed by the Federal Parliament and later incorporated into the Constitution of Nepal through a constitutional amendment.
Citing Article 5 of the Treaty of Sugauli, UML stated that all territory east of the Kali River belongs to Nepal and argued that Limpiyadhura constitutes the true source of the river.
The party further claimed that Nepal maintained an administrative presence in the Kalapani area until the 1960s and that Indian security forces began stationing there following the India-China war.
The statement noted that Nepal and India continue to have border-related disputes in 71 locations, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, Lipulekh and Susta. It stressed that such issues should be resolved through historical evidence, factual documentation and diplomatic dialogue.
UML also argued that technical boundary issues arising from changes in river courses or agricultural land use should not be equated with state-level territorial encroachment.
The party pointed out that the western tri-junction border point among Nepal, India and China has yet to be formally settled and requires diplomatic consensus among the three countries. Presenting such complex and sensitive issues casually in Parliament, it said, was inappropriate.
Calling on Prime Minister Shah to apologize to Parliament and the Nepali people, UML urged the government to adopt a fact-based and responsible approach when addressing issues related to national interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reaffirming its position on Nepal’s territorial claims, the party stated that the entire nation remains united in its commitment not to surrender “even an inch” of Nepali territory.
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