Kathmandu- Opposition leaders in Nepal’s House of Representatives have intensified their criticism of Prime Minister Balendra Shah over his remarks on the Nepal–India border issue, demanding clarification, accountability and removal of the statement from parliamentary records on Monday.
RPP parliamentary party leader Gyanendra Shahi called for the Prime Minister’s remarks to be struck off the official record if no evidence is presented.
“There is a difference between tea shop talk and parliamentary statements. What a common citizen says and what the Prime Minister of a country says have different impacts. When the Prime Minister makes any claim, the country considers it the official position. The international community takes it as Nepal’s official viewpoint and the public accepts it as truth,” Shahi said in the house.
“Therefore, the Prime Minister’s statements should be based on facts, evidence and reality. If the government cannot present any evidence of Nepal encroaching on Indian territory, I appeal that it should be removed from the parliamentary record,” Shahi demanded.
In entirely different stand, the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has alleged that Shah’s statement that Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory made on the eve of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane’s visit to India, is suspicious.
“In the run-up to the visit of the ruling party chair to India, the Prime Minister suddenly rushed to make this statement. Is this not a gift to India ahead of the visit? A serious suspicion has arisen,” NCP Yuvaraj Dulal said. “We would like to extend best wishes to the ruling party chair for his visit to India and hope that he succeeds in winning over the Indian leadership while maintaining his position on territorial issues.”
He also demanded that parliamentary proceedings not move forward until their concerns are addressed.
Nepali Congress Chief Whip Nishkal Rai also strongly objected to the remarks made from the parliamentary rostrum, saying the opposition has formally registered its dissent and is demanding direct clarification from the Prime Minister.
“We officially register our note of dissent on what the Prime Minister said from the rostrum of this Parliament. We demand that the Prime Minister comes to this very same rostrum and clarifies. Where and in which areas has Nepal encroached on Indian territory? We need a clear answer. This is a matter of national pride and national security. If tomorrow India asks to return our land, which area are we supposed to return?”
Rai also questioned the Foreign Ministry’s explanation that the remarks relate to “cross-border occupation,” calling the interpretation incorrect and said the statement weakens Nepal’s position internationally.
“Our stand is clear. His statement is against our national interest. It weakens our position with India on the border issue where we have been presenting facts and evidence. The narrative that Nepal is also a border encroacher has been established in the world.”
He termed the remarks “against national sovereignty” and warned that the opposition would not cooperate in parliamentary proceedings unless the statement is corrected and also urging ruling party lawmakers not to defend what he called an “anti-national statement.”
Meanwhile, protests by opposition parties disrupted proceedings in the House of Representatives forcing the Speaker to adjourn the session for 15 minutes amid rising tensions over the controversy.
