Nepal Parliament Approves Map that Includes Indian Territory

Nepal on Thursday unanimously cleared a constitutional amendment bill to reflect its new map in the national emblem, a move that is seen to virtually making the boundary row a permanent irritant in relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi. The bill garnered 57 votes in its support and none against.

Nepal's lower house cleared the bill last week thatwas supported by all the 258 lawmakers present and voting.

Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura are the territories Nepal now claims as its own.

New Delhi, while reacting to the passage of the map inNepal's lower house said: "This artificial enlargement of claims is not basedon historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. It is also violative of ourcurrent understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues."

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government has repeatedly claimed that Nepal would Get back the land occupied by India through dialogue.

The move is expected to aggravate a diplomatic rowbetween Nepal and India, which erupted after Kathmandu protested against theopening of an 80-km road to Lipulekh on the Chinese border by New Delhi lastmonth. Nepal claims Lipulekh but the Indian side has said the road iscompletely within its territory.