MP Demands PM Balen Shah Apologize for 'Nepal Encroached Indian Land' Statement

Kathmandu. The Shram Sanskriti Party has expressed serious objection to the statement made by Prime Minister Balen Shah in the parliament and demanded an immediate apology. Concluding that the Prime Minister's statement 'Nepal has also encroached upon a lot of Indian land' is against national interest, the party's MP Aren Rai demanded that the Prime Minister apologize from the rostrum of the parliament itself.

Speaking for a special time in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday, MP Rai expressed strong anger over Prime Minister Shah's statement. He questioned Prime Minister Shah, asking what land Nepal would return if India demanded 'Your Prime Minister has already accepted it, return our land'.

Claiming that Nepal has never encroached upon the land of any country in history, he said that such a weak and irresponsible statement by the Prime Minister has caused him deep sorrow and shame as a patriotic citizen and people's representative. Speaking in parliament, MP Rai said, 'I am deeply saddened and ashamed by the Prime Minister's statement; Nepal's sovereignty, independence, national unity, and territorial integrity are not just the subject of any political party, government, or individual.'

He emphasized that since sensitive issues like the country's borders are connected with the common sentiment of all Nepali people, the fundamental spirit of the constitution, and the existence of the nation, the statements made on this matter should always be clear, responsible, and in favor of national interest. He mentioned that if he had known beforehand that the Prime Minister would give such a weak, false, and baseless answer, he would not have asked the question in parliament, and removing the statement from the parliamentary record would not be enough.

MP Rai stated that it would be suicidal to establish such a precedent from the position of Prime Minister in history. Accusing Prime Minister Shah of lowering the country's prestige by giving the weakest and most baseless statement in Nepal's history, he added, 'Just as the Prime Minister has made a statement against the national interest from the rostrum of the parliament, he must come here and apologize and retract his words.'

The Shram Sanskriti Party has concluded that such a weak foundation of the government on issues of border defense and national independence will weaken Nepal's position in the international arena.