New Delhi: Nepal will now send its new political map, which shows three areas disputed with India as part of its territory, to the United Nations and Google to secure the international community’s recognition.
The map, finalised earlier this year, shows Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani within Nepalese borders. In June, Kathmandu had amended its constitution to incorporate the new map into its national emblem, a move New Delhi had slammed as an “artificial enlargement… not based on historical facts and evidence”.
“We are soon delivering the revised map incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura to the international community,” Nepal’s Minister for Land Management Padma Aryal was quoted as saying in a report Saturday by myRepublica, a Nepalese news portal.
Aryal said the text used in the map is being translated into English for the purpose, adding that it will be sent to the international community by mid-August.
Around 4,000 copies of the new map have reportedly already been printed in English.
Tense ties
The Nepalese announcement comes at a time when the map has emerged as a major sticking point in Kathmandu-New Delhi ties.
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Nepal had officially released the new political map on 20 May.
India has said it will not accept such an artificial enlargement of territory, adding that the map revision is a “unilateral act not based on historical facts and evidence”.
“It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India,” the Ministry of External Affairs had said in June.
Nepal took the step after India, on 8 May, opened a road to Kailash-Mansarovar in China that runs through the Lipulekh Pass.
Kathmandu had also stated in June that it will establish an army barrack near Kalapani and open a road there for easy access.
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