Nepal's presidential economic adviser, Chiranjivi Nepal, resigned Tuesday after he was in a controversy for his remarks over the new map of Nepal on the hundred-rupee note with three Indian territories, which India opposed.
President Ram Chandra Paudel accepted Nepal's resignation, saying that his remarks were misinterpreted by the media. Nepal, a former governor of the central bank, said that he was sad that the President was being made a part of some controversy and clarified that he meant to say that there might be some practical problems arising from the map issue.
The three territories of Nepal's map—the Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura—are also claimed by India. Despite the objection of India, Nepal's cabinet decided to replace the old map with the new one on the hundred-rupee notes.
Ex-PM KP Sharma Oli opposed Nepal's remarks. For his remarks against national interest and violating decorum, civil society leaders demanded his removal.
Nepal's government had released its revised political map in May 2020, which includes the disputed territories. It was endorsed by the Parliament at that time. India, though, had opposed such claims, saying that it had no historical basis and breached the provisions in the existing agreements on boundary issues between them.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed discontent over Nepal's decision to issue the new notes, emphasizing that it wouldn't alter the ground situation. Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states—Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Read also | Iranian Foreign Policy Adviser Signals Tehran's Willingness for Dialogue with Washington
