Congress Whip Nishkal Rai Criticizes PM's Statement on Border Encroachment

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress Chief Whip Nishkal Rai has objected to the Prime Minister's statement that 'Nepal has also encroached on India's land', calling it against national interest and shameful. Speaking in an emergency hour during the House of Representatives meeting, Chief Whip Rai said that the Prime Minister's statement has lowered the heads of three crore Nepalis and attacked national self-respect. 

Chief Whip Rai pointed out the danger that this statement, made by the Prime Minister standing at the rostrum of the parliament, would be established as a precedent. 'The Prime Minister must stand at the rostrum again and give a one-by-one inch account of where and where Nepal has encroached on India's land. This is a serious matter of national security. If India demands the land back tomorrow based on this statement, which land will be given?' Rai said. 

He also sarcastically commented on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' clarification of 'cross-border occupation' while defending the Prime Minister's statement. 'How can land encroachment be cross-border occupation? Does the Foreign Minister not have such basic knowledge?' Rai questioned. He also criticized the ruling party MPs who applauded the Prime Minister's anti-national statement, saying they had no 'remorse' at all. 

Congress Chief Whip Rai said that the Prime Minister's immature statement would weaken Nepal's claim based on facts and evidence in the border dispute with India at the international level. He termed it a suicidal step, saying that an attempt was being made to establish the narrative that 'Nepal is also a border encroacher' without any evidence for cheap popularity. 

Chief Whip Rai made it clear that cooperation in the house would not be possible until the Prime Minister corrects his statement and provides a satisfactory answer.  He also expressed dissatisfaction with the Speaker's silence and demanded an immediate ruling on the matter. 

'The house cannot proceed until the attack on our nationality spoken by the chief executive is 'corrected',' he said.