On/Off the Record By P.R. Pradhan India is our neighbor sharing borders from three sides of the country. In principle, both India and Nepal are friendly countries, relations are based on peaceful co-existence respecting sovereignty and independence and indivisibility of each other’s country. In practice, the relations are not harmonious as expected. Since the British rule in India, Nepal has always been troubled and exploited by the Indians. By size, India is many times bigger than Nepal, yet, the Indians intend for encroaching Nepali territory every time. On 8 May, Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the link-road for travelers to Mount Kailash Mansarobar in Tibet, China from Pithauragadh in UP, India via Nepali territory Lippulekh. In the past bilateral meetings, Nepal has always made clear that the territory from the eastern part of the Mahakali River belongs to Nepal. In accordance to the Sugauli Treaty held in 1816, the Mahakali River is the border river and western part of the Mahakali River belongs to India and eastern part belongs to Nepal. Moreover, the Sugauli Treaty was inked with the British rulers in India and in accordance to the 1950 Treaty, all past treaties signed between the two nations have automatically been scrapped. If the Nepali rulers have had the courage, they could have claimed the territories from Mahakali River to Satlaj River as Nepali territory as well as in the east Nepal from Mechi River to the Tista River also belonging to Nepal earlier to the Sugauli Treaty as along with other treaties, the Sugauli Treaty has also been scrapped since signing of the 1950 Treaty. Nepalis have sacrificed a big portion of territory after the Sugauli Treaty. Even on the remaining part of the Nepali territory, Indians are continuously encroaching our land. On the case of Indian presence in Kalapani area, Nepal has made clear that Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyuadhara are the territory of Nepal. The Nepali side has already produced historical evidences. All the Nepali border experts are confident that the Kalapani area is clearly Nepali territory. During the border talks between the two countries, Nepal has always raised the issue of Kalapani and Susta among other disputed border areas. In the Eminent Persons’ Group of the two countries also, the border issues have been discussed and agreed upon resolving border disputes between the two countries. Accordingly, when India unilaterally incorporated the Kalapani area in its new political map, immediately, the Nepal government had reacted and sent a protest note. In response, the Indian side had said that the issue would be resolved through the foreign secretary level bilateral talks. Time and again, Nepal has sent letters to the Indian government to set the meeting date. However, by giving different reasons, India is avoiding the meeting on disputed borders. Earlier, unofficial sources had informed that due to the change of the foreign secretary in India, the meeting was postponed. Even after finalization of the EPG report jointly prepared by the teams of Nepali and Indian EPG members assigned by the respective governments, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has denied to receive that. India unilaterally included Kalapani territory in its political map and when Nepal protested, the Indians said the issues should be resolved through bilateral talks and the Indians always avoided talks. Now, the Indians have inaugurated the link-road constructed via Nepali territory in spite of Nepal’s strong protest. These all Indian acts are intended towards bullying Nepal. Out of the 26 districts of Nepal sharing borders with India, in 21 districts and in 54 places, we are facing the problem of Indian encroachment in our territory. It is estimated that more than 60,000 hectars of land of Nepal has been encroached by the Indian side. In Kalapani-Limpiyadhura area only, India has encroached 37,000 hectars land. It is of course a shameful act of the Indians, nevertheless, our political leaders sponsored by the Indians are also solely responsible to allow the Indians to encroach our sovereign land gifted by our brave ancestors by shedding their blood and lives. We have adopted an expensive federal structure while feeding a large number of political leaders under the design of our sponsored leaders such as Pushpakamal Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai, Upendra Yadav. They, in fact, have attempted to push the nation towards bankruptcy by introducing such an expensive political system. They are not satisfied with seven provinces and trying to make it up to 14 provinces. The government revenue is not enough to run seven provinces, understandably, federalism is an expensive political system and a country like Nepal having less revenue source cannot sustain such a huge expenditure. The government’s first duty is to safeguard the country’s sovereignty but our rulers seem to have relied upon those cunning Indians as the government has not been able to deploy necessary border security force in Nepal’s international borders with India and China. Taking benefit of such open borders, Indians are encroaching Nepali territory every time. Always, we have been voicing to regulate the open borders and to increase the border security force in our international borders. If needed, remove the provincial mechanism but at any cost, increase the number of border security force to avoid border encroachment by the Indians. Also, the other negligence performed by our rulers is that why the government had allowed to carry out activities to the Indians in Nepali territory as the road was not constructed overnight! Be that as it may, we cannot tolerate encroachment of Nepali territory at any cost. We should always remain alert with the intention of our southern neighbor, not only on the border dispute but also other dirty games performed by the Indians against Nepal! We strongly ask the Nepal government to initiate talks with India immediately and if problems are not resolved through peaceful talks, Nepal should internationalize the issue. As Lipulekh is the border point of three countries – Nepal, India and China – China should also keep concern on the construction of road through Nepali territory. The Nepal government should also draw attention of the Chinese government on the issue as the link road between India and China passes through Nepali territory.