Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s statement claiming that Nepal has encroached upon India’s territory has drawn serious regret from border experts, who issued a joint statement expressing concern. The experts have urged the Prime Minister to clarify the basis of his statement and to offer an apology. In this context, a request has also been made to the Speaker to remove the statement from the parliamentary records. Kathmandu, 17 Jestha.
Border experts Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, Professor Dr. Pitambar Sharma, Professor Dr. Narendra Khanal, Dr. Jagat Bhusal, international border expert Prabhakar Sharma, and Dr. Dwarikanath Dhungel jointly released a statement expressing their surprise at the Prime Minister’s remarks. They have requested the Prime Minister to clarify the evidence supporting his claim.
“Until now, there has been no public declaration from any official body stating that Nepal has encroached on India’s border. This is the first time such an assertion has come from the country’s chief executive, the Prime Minister,” the statement notes. “It is essential to know on what evidence the Prime Minister has based this claim.”
The statement highlights that the Nepal–India Joint Boundary Commission has completed more than 98 percent of its work, yet neither this commission nor any other official agency has published a conclusion that Nepal has encroached on India’s territory. “Issues concerning national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and borders are extremely sensitive and of national importance. Such matters should be addressed only on the basis of facts and evidence,” they said.
“To dispel the confusion caused by this statement, it is our view that the Prime Minister should publicly clarify his remarks and issue an apology,” they added.
