New map amid border row with India : Nepal tables controversial Bill

Kathmandu: Nepal law Minister Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe tabled the constitutional amendment bill, to update the map of Nepal, in the House of Representatives on Sunday.

The tabling of the bill is crucial as it indicates that the KP Sharma Oli government is confident of its passage in the house.

A discussion on the bill in Parliament is yet to take place. The bill seeks to modify the Nepal map to include Indian territories of Limpiyadhura, Kapalpani and Lipulekh, which Nepal claims as its own.

The move was made after the central committee of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, in a meeting on Saturday directed its parliamentary party to vote in favour of the bill.

The bill couldn't be presented in Parliament on Wednesday as the Nepali Congress had sought more time to discuss the matter internally. Since, it's a constitutional amendment bill and requires 2/3rd majority, the Oli govt put it on temporary hold.

With the crucial support of Nepali Congress, the Oli government will likely be able to pass the bill now even without the support of the Madesh-based parties.

The Samajbadi Janata party Nepal and the Rashtriya Janata Party Nepal have been asking the Oli government to also address their long-standing demand and that it be incorporated as well.

However, India had already earlier rejected Nepal's decision to issue a revised map that included Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, which are part of the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

In a sharp reaction right after the Nepal Ministry of Land Management had unveiled the new map, MEA had said "This unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence… Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India."