'Not acceptable': India on Nepal's artificial enlargement of territorial claims

New Delhi : India on Wednesday said Nepal's claim to Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani was "artificial enlargement of territorial claim" and will not be accepted. What made things shoddier is the new map which Nepal issued including the new areas as its territory, following a statement by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli that a virus from India was more lethal than China's.

Asked about the matter today, the foreign ministry said the Nepal government's "unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence".

Anurag Srivastava, ministry spokesperson, slammed the move and said it is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve outstanding boundary issues through dialogue.

"Nepal is well aware of India's consistent position on this matter and we urge the Government of Nepal to refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion and respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope that the Nepalese leadership will create a positive atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the outstanding boundary issues," he added.

Nepal claims the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand on basis of a treaty made with the British in 1816.  The Treaty of Sugauli was meant to define its western border with India. The two countries share a 1,800 km open border.

Limpiyadhura and Kalapani are highly strategic areas which India has been guarding since the 1962 war with China.

Nepal has protested after a new road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Kailash Mansarovar route in China, was inaugurated on May 8. Kathmandu said it is considering putting up a security post in the area.

The foreign ministry said the road "lies completely within the territory of India" and follows the route used by the pilgrims. "Under the present project, the same road has been made pliable for the ease and convenience of pilgrims, locals, and traders," the foreign ministry has said.