KATHMANDU, May 5: The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has reiterated its long-standing position on Nepal’s territorial claims over Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani, urging India and China to respect Nepal’s sovereignty and resolve the issue through diplomatic dialogue.
The party expressed serious concern over the reported agreement between India and China to operate the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route via Lipulekh, stating that the area in question is an inseparable part of Nepal’s sovereign territory.
Reaffirming its institutional stance, the NC said that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani belong to Nepal based on historical evidence, including the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, official maps, archival records, and documented references. The party stressed that this position has remained consistent over time and is rooted in established historical and legal foundations.
SC directs govt to seek diplomatic resolution to Nepal-India bo...
The NC also recalled that in 2015, the government led by then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had sent diplomatic notes to both India and China, asserting Nepal’s claims over territories east of the Mahakali River. Those notes emphasized that any bilateral understanding made without Nepal’s consent cannot alter historical facts or territorial realities, and had called for correction of such arrangements through diplomatic means.
Welcoming the recent diplomatic notes sent by the Government of Nepal to India and China, the party urged the state to intensify high-level diplomatic engagement and continue dialogue based on historical evidence and international norms. It expressed confidence that both neighboring countries, with whom Nepal shares long-standing friendly relations, would remain sensitive to Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The NC further reiterated that Nepal’s updated national map, unanimously endorsed by Parliament in 2020, which includes Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani as Nepali territory, is now part of the constitutional framework. The party said that safeguarding national borders requires unity beyond partisan politics and called for a common national position on sensitive sovereignty issues.
NC urged all political parties to rise above political differences and work collectively to protect Nepal’s territorial integrity and long-term national interests, emphasizing consistency in foreign policy and national unity.
Alongside the border issue, the party meeting also discussed governance-related concerns, including alleged inhumane treatment in the relocation of squatters, constitutional questions related to ordinances and the Constitutional Council, and internal organizational matters involving sister organizations. The party stressed that landless and displaced citizens must be treated humanely and managed strictly under the rule of law, not coercive practices.
Reaffirming its position, the NC stated that Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable and must be upheld through constitutional principles, historical evidence, and sustained diplomatic engagement. It called on the government to take an active diplomatic role to ensure Nepal’s borders and sovereign rights are fully respected by neighboring countries.
