Nepal Parliament passes Constitution Bill updating new political map in the national emblem
Travel Biz News —
Kathmandu, June 13: Nepal’s Parliament – House of Representatives unanimously endorsed the second amendment to the constitution of Nepal to update the country’s new political map in the national emblem.
All 258 members of the House of Representatives present in the parliament today voted for endorsement of the bill.
The bill amends Schedule 3 of the Constitution which includes Nepal’s map incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani encroached by India.
The bill needs to be endorsed by the President before it comes into effect.
The Cabinet, on May 20, had issued a new administrative map of Nepal incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, all territories disputed with India, into Nepali territory.
Nepal decided to release its new political map after India earlier last month opened a link road via Lipulekh to Kailash Mansarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
The government registered a bill in Parliament seeking to amend the constitution to update Nepal’s new political map in the national emblem.
While India and Nepal have an open border of 1800 km with no restrictions on movement of their citizens on either side, there are 23 checkpoints for trade purposes.
The area of Nepal now is 147,516 square kilometers.
India reacts on the passing of Constitutional Amendment Bill
In response to media queries on the passing of Constitutional Amendment Bill revising the Coat of Arms of Nepal by the House of Representatives of Nepal, the Official Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, ” We have noted that the House of Representatives of Nepal has passed a constitution amendment bill for changing the map of Nepal to include parts of Indian territory. We have already made our position clear on this matter.
This artificial enlargement of claims is not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. It is also violative of our current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues.”
June 13, 2020
