As a symbolic reply to India's placement of the 'Akhand Bharat' mural in its new parliamentary building in New Delhi, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah has erected a map of 'Greater Nepal' in his chamber.
Mayor Shah, who was chosen by Kathmandu people and took the oath of office and confidentiality as required by Nepal's constitution, is subject to the same rules. However, his most recent ruling has generated constitutional and legal concerns. Can an elected representative of the people go against the letter and spirit of the constitution?
Some constitutional scholars believe his ruling was unconstitutional.
In reaction to a painting painted on the wall of India's new parliament building, Shah, who is now in the Indian city of Bangalore, phoned his aides on Thursday and instructed them to display a map of 'Greater Nepal' in his chamber. When questioned why Shah retained the unofficial map in his office, an aide to Shah told the Post, "We have to remember Nepal's proud history." "Mayor Shah believes it exudes a positive sense of nationalism."
According to Bipin Adhikari, a constitutional scholar, elected lawmakers should only utilize the map permitted by the Nepalese constitution.
During a news conference in New Delhi, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar commented on the present 'Akhand Bharat' dispute, saying, "It depicts the extent of the Ashokan Empire." Countries that are friendly will understand. You may forget about Pakistan; they lack the ability to comprehend."
"It is not a political issue," Jaishankar said, adding that "friendly nations such as Nepal have understood India's explanation, but a nation such as Pakistan does not have the capability to understand it." "This is not a political map; it is a cultural map." "I hope our pleasant neighbors understand."
Nepali territory used to extend from the Teesta in the east to the Sutlej in the west; these areas now lie into Indian territory. Those who advocate for a Greater Nepal are asking for return of the land that Nepal controlled before the Treaty of Sugauli signed in 1816 following the Anglo-Nepalese war between the Nepali state and British-India.
Nepal ceded land from the Mechi River to Sikkim-Jalpaiguri-Teesta in the east and from the Mahakali River to the Sutlej in the west following the Sugauli Treaty. The Sugauli Treaty was signed on March 4, 1816, between Nepal and the East India Company, limiting Nepal's territory to Mechi-Mahakali. The overall land mass lost by Nepal during the Treaty of Sugauli was more than 60% of today's Nepal.
"Land alone does not make a country; population is equally important." "This is something that needs to be looked at very carefully when a responsible elected representative makes such a decision," said another constitutional scholar.
Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, a well-known cartographer, also condemned Shah's decision.
"Shah is the mayor of Nepal's capital." His protocol rank is equivalent to that of a state minister. "He should keep this in mind," Shrestha remarked. "He should avoid doing anything that could exacerbate tensions between the two countries." Shah should abide by the law."
The border dispute with India was discussed during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's official visit to India.
"We raised the issue of a new Indian map, which is placed in the Indian parliament," the prime minister said during a meeting of the National Assembly on Wednesday. We took this matter very seriously. However, the Indian side argued that it was a cultural and historical map rather than a political map.
Lumbini and Kapilvastu, the birthplace of the Buddha, are included in the new Indian mural.
Nepal and India are already at odds over the areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, with the Nepali side long claiming ownership.
After India unilaterally announced a new map in November 2019 that included the three territories within India and failed to listen to Nepali objections, Nepal, six months later in May 2020, issued its own map that included the three areas within its borders.
This dispute brought bilateral ties to an all-time low.
Mayor Shah is currently in India receiving treatment for his wife.
On May 28, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Indian parliament. The establishment of the 'Akhand Bharat' mural in the parliament building has invited strong protests from Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, as per some Indian media reports.
"The mayor of Kathmandu should uphold the rule of law, and he does not have the freedom to support the contentious concept of 'Greater Nepal,'" Adhikari added. "Yes, it is just a concept, similar to 'Akhand Bharat.'"
"Kathmandu's mayor should think twice before making such a decision." Mayor Shah's childish behavior does not suit us and is unacceptable. His actions do not support the vision of Greater Nepal. People with executive status, like him, should not indulge in such behavior."
The Nepalese government has made no formal response to India on the matter.
In addition to Mayor Shah, Nepal's opposition CPN-UML has previously condemned the new Indian mural that has been installed in India's parliament.
Similarly, a top leader of the ruling Nepali Congress expressed opposition to the new Indian map and asked the populace to follow Mayor Shah's example.
Gagan Thapa, general secretary of Nepali Congress, the country's main political party, stated on Thursday that Nepal should also issue a map of "Greater Nepal."
"If any country unilaterally publishes its cultural map, Nepal has the right to discuss and publish the map of 'Greater Nepal,'" Thapa explained. "India should not object if Nepal considers publishing a [similar] map." It should rather accept it."
Harka Sampang, the mayor of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City in eastern Nepal, responded to Mayor Shah's action by saying his office would also display a 'Greater Nepal' map. "I noticed Balen-jyu had placed a Greater Nepal map in his office ," Sampang wrote on Twitter on Thursday. "Dharan will follow suit."
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