PM Oli claims Lord Ram for Nepal, says India created 'fake' Ayodhya

Nepalese leader's statement comes at a time when the two countries are holding back-channel talks after Kathmandu claimed Indian territories of Lipulekh-Kalapani in a new map.

Lord Ram was born in Nepal but India had created a "fake" Ayodhya as his birthplace, said K P Oli, the Himalayan nation’s Prime Minister, on Monday as ties between the two countries come under stress. Oli’s statement, as reported by the Himalayan Times, comes at a time when the two countries are holding back-channel talks after Nepal claimed Indian territories of Lipulekh-Kalapani in a new map released last month. "Balmiki Ashram is in Nepal and the holy place where King Dashrath had executed the rites to get the son is in Ridi. Dashrath's son Ram was not an Indian and Ayodhya is also in Nepal," Oli said.

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Legend says Sita after she was abandoned by Ram, lived in the ashram of sage Valmiki with sons Lav and Kush on the bank of Narayani (Gandak River) along present-day Nepal border with Bihar. The place attracts a large number of pilgrims even today. Oli statement is likely to create a controversy in India, where the Supreme Court last year paved the way for the creation of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, where many Hindus believe the revered figure was born.

Kathmandu partially lifts ban on Indian news channels

Nepal's cable television operators on Monday partially lifted the ban on Indian private news channels. "A few news channels airing objectionable content are still banned in the country," said Dhurba Sharma, vice president of television operators' association...

Indian killed at Nepal border: Delhi takes up incident with Kathmandu

An unprecedented incident of firing on Indians by Nepal Armed Police Force took place on Friday morning , in which one Indian died

India has “taken up” with Kathmandu the June 12 killing of its citizen by Nepalese border guard forces at the international border near Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, sources said.An unprecedented incident of firing on Indians by Nepal Armed Police Force took place on Friday morning , in which one Indian died.”A total of three persons have suffered injuries. Another person named Vikesh Yadav succumbed to his injuries.

Two others who were injured have been identified as Umesh Ram and Uday Thakur,” Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which patrols the India-Nepal border, had told ANI.”India has taken up the matter with Nepal Government of the killing of an Indian citizen at Indo-Nepal border,” sources said.The firing incident comes amid tension between India and Nepal after Kathmandu recently passed an amendment to include in the constitution a new map which showed Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura as part of its territory.

New Delhi has said that the updated map is “not based on historical facts and evidence”.India termed the claims by Nepal as artificial enlargement not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. The family of Indian citizen Lagan Kishore, who was detained in Nepal, after Friday’s firing incident returned to his hometown after being freed on Saturday. He said that the Nepalese personnel hit him with rifle butt and took him from the Indian side to Nepal’s Sangrampur…Read More

Nepal’s Upper House endorses proposal seeking to update country’s new map

This comes a day after the lower house of Parliament unanimously passed the constitution amend

Nepal ‘s Upper House of Parliament on Sunday endorsed a proposal to discuss the Constitution amendment bill to update the country’s map that incorporates parts of Indian territory. This comes a day after the lower house of Parliament unanimously passed the constitution amendment bill to approve the new map, which includes Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. In the second meeting of the National Assembly, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Shivamaya Tumbahangphe presented the proposal along with the message from the House of Representatives.

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Responding to the queries during the discussion in principle of the Bill, Tumbahangphe said, “With the passage of the Bill from House of Representatives, it is proved that all political parties come together in terms of nationality.” The time duration of 72 hours has been allocated for the members of the National Assembly to file complaints on the bill. Once it is approved in the Upper House it will again be sent to the Lower House where it will be signed by House Speaker and sent to President for ratification.

Nepal’s House of Representatives had on June 10 endorsed a proposal seeking consideration of a constitution amendment bill for change of country’s map after a lengthy discussion. Nepal has made offers to India to hold “diplomatic talks to resolve the territorial issue” between the two countries. New Delhi has said that the updated map is “not based on historical facts and evidence” and termed the claims by Nepal as artificial enlargement…Read More