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, amid 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 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 (NCP) and Opposition parties are taking part in the discussion.
Read also: Nepal sets up post at Chhangru border after India inaugurates Lipulekh link road
The NCP commands the two-third 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.
Kathmandu last month released the revised political and administrative map of the country laying claim over the strategically key areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.
Read also: Border dispute: Nepal renews call for talks with India
New Delhi 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".
The spokesman of the ministry of external affairs also asked Kathmandu to respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, hoping that the Nepalese leadership will create a positive atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the outstanding boundary issues.
The ties between the two countries came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8.
Kathmandu reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. New Delhi rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory.
Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali said on Tuesday that Kathmandu was still waiting for a response from India on holding talks to resolve the border dispute.
PTI
