India on Wednesday called Nepal’s move to release a revised official map that includes parts of Indian territory a “unilateral act” which is not based on “historical facts and evidence” and said that it will not accept such “artificial enlargement of territorial claims” by its neighbour.
“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,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.
“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,” Srivastava added.
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“We hope that the Nepalese leadership will create a positive atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the outstanding boundary issues,” the MEA spokesperson further said.
Nepal has officially released a new political map that shows several regions of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh in Uttarakhand as part of Nepalese territory.
Nepal’s Land Management Minister, while launching the map at a presser, called it a historic moment of happiness for people of Nepal and said that government will not allow erosion of self-esteem of its people. He added that Nepal will publish the new map and make it part of school textbooks.
This move came after Nepal objected to India building a road to the Lipulekh pass to cut travel time for pilgrims going to Mansarovar in Tibet.