Nepal Parliament starts discussion on revised map

Kathmandu: Nepal’s Parliament on Tuesday started discussions on a Constitution amendment bill to change the country’s political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under its territory, amidst a border row with India.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Shivamaya Thumbhangphe tabled the Constitution amendment bill for discussions in Parliament in a bid to amend the Constitution to update the country’s map.

The Constitution amendment proposal was to be tabled in Parliament last month but it could not proceed further after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said that he wanted to hold an all-party meeting to discuss the matter. The bill seeks to amend the political map of Nepal included in schedule 3 of the Constitution. It requires a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament to bring an amendment to the Constitution.

Parliament members belonging to the ruling Nepal Communist Party and Opposition parties are taking part in the discussion.

The NCP commands a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, but it needs support from other parties to get the Constitution amendment proposal through the Lower House, as it falls short of around 10 seats.

The Nepali Congress, the main Opposition party, has decided to vote in favour of the bill.

Nepal last month released the revised political and administrative map of the country laying claim over the strategically key areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.

India reacted angrily to the move saying such “artificial enlargement” of territorial claims will not be acceptable and asked the neighbouring country to refrain from such “unjustified cartographic assertion”.