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What's up with Lipulekh?
Our Balen government has objected to the Indian annual tour plan via Lipulekh. And it's not only the Indians but the Chinese as well because the Kaliash Mansarovar Yatra ends up in China and they have once again allowed the Indians to come through the Lipulekh pass a few years after the so-called fistfights at the borders between our two chimekis. We think it belongs to us and we have every right to claim the area but the Indians think otherwise.
And it's not only Lipulekh but also Limpiyadhura and Kalapani East of the Mahakali River as well if we actually read the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli right! We have asked the Indians not to organize any plans through our territory but we know very well that our chimeki is not going to accept our friend request on this one! We have also asked them not to expand border trade, pilgrimage tours and road construction in the disputed areas, but who is going to listen to us?
When China comes up with a new map, with a State or two of India as their own, India only tells China that it is a bully and can't do much about it. But when we do come up with our 'Pointy' Map then the Indian media will jump up and down and think we are Chinese puppets!
I think our chimekis really don't think we can do anything about the disputed territories because we can't pick up a fight with them. They know it, and all we can do for now is to convey our position through diplomatic channels and shut up the old corrupt guards and even Harka and Durgey Prasai, who have been calling for the Nepal Army to be stationed in these areas.
We really can't win any war if we seek military solutions to these problems. We know the Chinese and the Indians have a lot more stuff, be it manpower or machines, when it comes to their armed forces. We can only seek a diplomatic solution for now.
These two chimekis are a funny lot. They trade heavily with each other, more than US$120 billion in annual trade, with the Indians suffering a trade deficit of more than 80% out of the total trade. And then India bans TikTok and China bans something else, and they engage in petty border issues, fighting with sticks and stones just in case it doesn't escalate to full-blown war. And the irony is that it is our men in the Indian Gorkha regiments, from our villages, who have to engage in combat against India's foes once in a while.
It's okay for the Indians businesses to trade with China. It was okay for Anil Ambani to take out hundreds of millions of dollars in loans from Chinese banks. It is okay for India to suffer from more than US$100 billion in trade deficit with China, but it's not okay for Nepal to take in Chinese loans and investments for our hydropower and other business ventures.
India will not buy our electricity if the hydropower project is made with Chinese money. Isn't that just a big bunch of BS? The Indian media calls us Pro-China and anti-India, but the reality is that we are Pro-Nepal and not somebody's puppet. We do need help, be it investments or technical knowledge from both of our chimekis, but don't play petty games with us just to boost your ego!
India is now telling us that, since they have been using this route for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since 1954, it is all good and Nepal should just back off and let it be. They think that our claims to these disputed areas are not based on any evidence or historical facts. I guess, if they read the Sugauli Treaty like Shashi Tharoor, then they would finally get it right.
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