While Nepal government has moved swiftly to reassure India following Prime Minister Balen Shah’s controversial remarks on the Nepal-India border dispute, the political storm at home shows little sign of subsiding with opposition parties continuing to obstruct parliamentary proceedings and demanding a clarification from the Prime Minister.
The controversy erupted after Shah stated in parliament that Nepal had also encroached upon Indian territory, a remark that triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties and ignited a broader political debate over one of Nepal’s most sensitive national issues.
Since then opposition lawmakers have repeatedly disrupted parliamentary proceedings demanding that the statement be removed from the official record and that the Prime Minister issue an apology and clarification before the House. They have also called for Shah to personally address Parliament arguing that the matter concerns Nepal’s long-standing position on its border dispute with India.
The dispute has unfolded at a time when Kathmandu has been seeking to strengthen ties with New Delhi following the formation of the new government.
In recent weeks, the government has undertaken a series of high-level engagements with India. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane visited New Delhi where he held meetings with senior Indian leaders including with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar while Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal travelled to India for his first official visit since assuming office.
The government has also sought to clarify that the Prime Minister’s remarks do not represent any change in Nepal’s official position on border issues. During his visit to India, Khanal publicly reiterated Nepal’s established stance and emphasised the importance of resolving outstanding issues through dialogue and diplomatic channels.
Khanal clarified that Nepal is not seeking mediation from the UK government but just documents after India official rejected the role of third party in a bilateral issue.
In a notable move, the Foreign Minister also addressed journalists in New Delhi becoming one of the few Nepali leaders to hold a dedicated media interaction in India during an official visit. The interaction was widely viewed as an effort to explain Kathmandu’s new government position and prevent misunderstandings following the controversy surrounding the Prime Minister’s comments.
While the government’s diplomatic outreach appears to have helped contain concerns in New Delhi, the domestic political debate remains unresolved.
Opposition parties maintain that the issue cannot be settled solely through clarifications issued by ministers and government officials. They argue that since the remarks were made by the Prime Minister inside parliament, a response from Shah himself is necessary.
The continued protests have added to the government’s parliamentary challenges with sessions repeatedly disrupted as opposition lawmakers press their demands.
The episode has highlighted the different dimensions of a controversy that quickly evolved from a domestic political dispute into a matter attracting diplomatic attention. Although the government has sought to reassure India and underline continuity in Nepal’s foreign policy, it continues to face pressure at home to address concerns raised by opposition parties over the Prime Minister’s remarks.
For now, the government’s efforts appear to have eased questions abroad but the political debate inside Nepal’s parliament remains far from over.
