New Delhi: With the Nepal government waiting for all-party consensus to table the constitutional amendment to update its political map, India said that it was “open” to engaging with any neighbour in an environment of “trust and confidence”, but added that this required “positive” efforts.
After introducing a new political map that incorporated territories claimed by India, the Nepal government had sought to change the constitution to update the map in the national emblem.
However, the listing of the tabling of the constitutional amendment Bill on the parliamentary agenda on Wednesday was withdrawn by the government.
The principal opposition party, the Nepali Congress, has called for a meeting of its central working committee on Saturday to discuss the Bill. But, after public outcry over the withdrawal from the agenda, the Nepali Congress leadership denied that they had requested for the delay and instead blamed the government.
Referring to these ongoing political developments, Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “We continue to monitor the situation. India has noted that this matter is receiving Careful consideration in Nepal.”
He added that India was “open to engaging with all neighbours based on mutual sensitivity and respect in [an] environment of trust and confidence”.
It was a “continuous process”, stated Srivastava, which “requires constructive and positive efforts”.
His words again clearly indicated that India would be unhappy if Nepal passed the constitutional amendment Bill, which will incorporate Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh as Nepalese territory in the new map.
There is still no indication from the Nepal government that it will step away from tabling and approving the constitutional amendment Bill.
According to Nepali media reports, the Nepali Congress leadership is facing a lot of pressure from its cadre to approve the constitutional amendment.
The ruling Nepal Communist Party and opposition NC together have more than two-thirds of the seats required to pass a constitutional amendment in both houses of federal parliament.