Embattled & cornered, Nepal PM KP Oli sending Foreign min to 'reclaim' Indian territories

Days ahe of Nepal Foreign Minister Preep Kumar Gyawali's visit to India, PM KP Sharma Oli said on Sunday that he will get back territories of Kalapani, Limpiyhura and Lipulekh from New Delhi. Nepal's Foreign Minister will visit India on January 14, in a bid to restore rmalcy in bilateral relations that soured over a bitter border row. 

'We will get m back...'

"Kalapani, Limpiyhura and Lipulekh which are located east of Mahakali River belong to Nepal as per Sugauli Treaty. We will get m back through diplomatic talks with India, Oli said.

"Our Foreign Minister will visit India on January 14 during which his discussion will be centred on issue of map that we have published with inclusion of three territories," said Oli, who h triggered border row last year after his government came out with a new political map that showed Indian territories as part of Nepal.

Oli also said that his government has me sincere efforts to strengn bilateral ties with both India and China. "I, in a real sense want friendship with India and take it forward for a stronger bond in coming days. I want that friendship to flourish, take it to a new height, which never would be on basis of inequalities. It would rar be based on sovereignty and equality, on basis of which relation between two countries would develop and expand furr. That friendship also would spring from deep within heart," ANI quoted Oli as saying.

India-Nepal bilateral ties

Prime Minister also said that recent high-level visits from India and China were goodwill ones. "y came here to convey ir good wishes. re is thing to worry much about that," he was quoted as saying by My Republica newspaper.

After Nepal released map last year, India reacted sharply, calling it a "unilateral act" and cautioning Kathmandu that such "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims will t be acceptable to it. India said that Nepal's action violated an understanding reached between two countries to resolve boundary issues through talks.

bilateral exchanges that h stalled due to bitter boundary dispute were reset in later part of 2020 with a series of high-level visits, as New Delhi emphasised that it sees itself as Himalayan nation's "foremost friend" and development partner.

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Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's maiden visit to Nepal in vember was largely aimed at resetting bilateral ties. Shringla met Prime Minister Oli and or top political brass and emphasised that India and Nepal are on same p and share same vision.

Meanwhile, Oli also defended his decision to dissolve parliament, saying "I was forced to dissolve House of Representatives as some people in my party did t allow government to perform well."

President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved Parliament in December on recommendation of Prime Minister Oli and anunced mid-term general election in April-May, a decision termed unconstitutional, impulsive and autocratic by Opposition and dissidents in ruling Nepal Communist Party. Oli h earlier claimed that efforts were being me to oust him after his government redrew country's political map by incorporating three strategically key Indian territories.

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(With ncy inputs)