PM Shah’s Border Statement Faces Opposition Objections

Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s remarks in Parliament on Nepal-India border issues have triggered sharp objections from opposition parties, with lawmakers demanding either evidence to support the claim or its removal from the official parliamentary record.

The dispute emerged during Sunday’s session of the House of Representatives when Shah, responding to lawmakers’ questions, said he had received information suggesting that Nepal had also encroached upon some Indian territory. The statement immediately drew criticism from both the Nepali Congress and the CPN, which argued that such comments on a sensitive national issue require clear factual backing.

The reaction reflects the political sensitivity that continues to surround border matters between Nepal and India. Questions related to territory, sovereignty and historical boundary disputes have long carried significant public and diplomatic weight, making any official statement on the issue subject to close scrutiny.

Opposition Seeks Clarification

Nepali Congress Chief Whip Basana Thapa described the Prime Minister’s statement as serious and said the government must provide details if it possesses information indicating that Nepal has occupied Indian land.

Addressing Parliament, Thapa asked the government to specify where the alleged encroachment had occurred and under what circumstances. She maintained that if the claim cannot be substantiated with evidence, the statement should be removed from the parliamentary record.

The demand placed additional pressure on the government to clarify the basis of the Prime Minister’s remarks and explain whether they reflect an official position or preliminary information received through administrative channels.

CPN Also Objects

CPN lawmaker Ramesh Malla also challenged the Prime Minister’s statement, calling it an inappropriate comment on a matter of national importance.

Malla said that any assertion concerning international borders must be supported by clear facts and urged the parliamentary leadership to strike the remark from the official record if such evidence is unavailable.

Border Issue Returns to Parliamentary Focus

The exchange brought Nepal-India border concerns back to the centre of parliamentary discussion.

While lawmakers from opposition parties focused on the accuracy of the Prime Minister’s statement, the broader issue now confronting the government is whether it will provide documentation or clarification regarding the information Shah referenced in the House.

For now, opposition parties have made their position clear: a claim involving national territory cannot remain unanswered inside Parliament.