India has condemned Nepal’s decision to introduce a new 100-rupee note with a map featuring the disputed territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. On Sunday, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said that Nepal’s “unilateral actions” would not change the reality of the ground.
India’s Response
Interacting with professionals in Bhubaneswar, Jaishankar said that India’s position is “very clear.” He mentioned that the two sides had been discussing their boundary matters through an established platform, and in the middle of it, Nepal unilaterally took some measures on its side. “But by doing something on their side, they are not going to change the situation between us,” he added.
Amid the controversy, Jaishankar also highlighted the complexities of managing ties with neighbouring countries. Saying that dealing with neighbours involves navigating a bit of politics sometimes, he stressed that “It’s about balancing our interests with theirs.”
"It's about balancing our interests with theirs": EAM Jaishankar on Nepal currency row
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) May 5, 2024
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/EEVA2CtZs8#Jaishankar #Nepal #India pic.twitter.com/9Sia2zMyHg
Both India and Nepal claim Kalapani as an integral part of their respective territories, with India considering it a part of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district and Nepal viewing it as a part of its Dharchula district. The issue has raised tensions between the two several times in the past.
In 2020, India-Nepal ties were strained significantly when the latter updated its political map, including the disputed territories as its own. The new map added 335 square kilometres of land to Nepal’s territory. India condemned the move, calling it “artificial” and “untenable.”
Earlier, Nepal protested the construction of an 80km road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh. The country also raised its voice against the inclusion of the disputed territories in India’s map in November 2019. However, India has repeatedly rejected Nepal’s opposition, claiming the territories as its own.
New 100-Rupee Note
Nepali Minister for Communication and Information Technology (MoICT) and government spokesperson Rekha Sharma announced on Friday that the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had been granted authority to replace the current map on the 100-rupee banknotes with an updated version. The decision was taken during a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by PM Pushpakamal Dahal “Prachanda.”
#Nepal’s PM has decided to print the new map of #Nepal, which includes the territory of #Lipulekh, #Limpiyadhura & #Kalapani in the Rs 100 denomination bank notes.
— EurAsian Times (@THEEURASIATIMES) May 4, 2024
The new map comes after Nepal called India’s claims an “artificial enlargement” & “untenable.” @PMOIndia… pic.twitter.com/mnH2ohVw4n
According to reports, the Nepali Congress and a few other parties are opposed to the new note to avoid further aggravating the existing border dispute with India.