By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov. 28: The government is busy collecting all available historical evidences and proofs before it begins to mobilise both diplomatic and political channels to settle the border rows with India, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota said on Thursday.
“No one needs to get confused that Kalapani and Lipulek are our territories, the question is only about Limpiyadhura, and this will also be settled through both diplomatic and political channels,” Minister Baskota said at a press conference organised at the Ministry to make the cabinet decisions taken over the week public.
“Collecting all available historical documents and agreements, the government will settle not only the issue of Limipiyadhura, but will also resolve issues relating to Susta in the Terai through talks with the Indian side at different levels,” Minister Baskota said.
He said a process in this regard had already begun after the formation of a 10-member committee to conduct the study of border issues, and added that the committee would submit its report to the government in three months.
Baskota, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the government was hopeful that all the governments of neighbouring and friendly countries as well as other countries would respect the sovereignty of Nepal.
“If our government lacks proof to claim the land, we don’t need even one inch of land that has been occupied by India,” he said.
“The government of Nepal only claims the land that has been clearly mentioned in the Sugauli Treaty’s Article 5 signed on December 2, 1815 and which was ratified on March 4, 1816 with East India Company and the then Kingdom of Nepal,” Minister Baskota said.
“When we will sit for a dialogue by accumulating all historical facts and documents with India, our presence will be stronger enough to claim the land,” Minister Baskota said.
In another context, Minister Baskota informed about the invitation extended by Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Prime Minister to visit Nepal.
Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting held on November 21 took two separate decisions. They included agreeing in principle to draft an integrated bill related to land.
Speaking further on the land bill, Minister Baskota said that the government would bring new land bill also by incorporating the Guthi Bill.
Minister Baskota said the Land Management Ministry had been given consent in principle to bring the new Land Bill.
"There are issues about the land of Guthi while there are also issues related to constitutional rights and productivity," Baskota said.
"The ministry has been permitted in principle to increase scientific use of the land and bring integrated bill about it," he said.
The government had earlier brought a separate bill about Guthis (community trusts).
But it had to withdraw the bill following massive protests in the Kathmandu Valley. The Newar Community in all three districts of the Kathmandu Valley opposed the bill complaining that the government had tried to destroy their culture and tradition.
Meanwhile, Minister Baskota said that the health of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is recuperating at the TU Teaching Hospital after undergoing appendicitis operation is improving remarkably.
This is all a matter of happiness to all of us that Prime Minister Oli’s health condition was improving remarkably, said Minister Baskota.
Prime Minister Oli himself in a tweet posts on Thursday thanked all his well-wishers who had expressed their concern on his health.
“The Ministry and the media sector would also like to wish him a speedy recovery,” Minister Baskota said.