Despite repeated instigations, India urges Nepal to create positive environment

Nepal continues to up the ante. The amendment to rewrite the map has received the full support of the house of representatives -- the lower of the parliament.

It's a cross-party backing all for a nationalistic cause. In the Nepal parliament, PM KP Sharma Oli said: "India is occupying Nepali territory."

The new map by Nepal marks the disputed territory of Lipulekh as its own. The amendment proposal also depicts areas of Kalapani and Limpiyadhura within its borders.

India says its forces will remain in the territory. Surprisingly, Prime Minister Oli has found an unlikely adversary in the whole border dispute.

The Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh -- Yogi Adityanath. He advised Nepal not to repeat the mistake of Tibet.

From 1959 to 1989 -- Nepal allowed Tibetans to cross the border, following persecution under China. China claimed Tibet as its own.

In 1989, after closing up with China -- Nepal stopped the Tibetan refugees from settling permanently.

Along with being the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Yogi Adityanath is also the head of the Gorakh Peeth in Gorakhpur. The temple has been serving as a cultural and religious bridge between the two countries.
 
A large section of the Nepal population holds the temple in high esteem.

Recognising this, Yogi Adityanath said:  "The two countries have cultural, historical and mythological links that date back to several centuries and Nepal should remember this."

Nepal prime minister Oli did not take the comment well. It shows where Nepal's allegiance lies with China. His reply to Yogi Adityanath betrays any understanding of the diplomatic relations between India and Nepal.

He took it as a threat. He said that Yogi Adityanath is not the decisive person in the central government. That he is just a chief minister. Oli said that he considers the comments as contempt towards Nepal.  And Nepal is not ready to be despised.

 If the border dispute was not enough. The Nepal prime minister said 85 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in Nepal came from India.

Currently, Nepal has over 4,000 confirmed cases and at least 15 people have died due to the virus. Despite the repeated instigations, India has called on Nepal to create a positive environment.