Kathmandu – Former Prime Minister of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai, has expressed his concern regarding the depiction of Nepal’s Kapilvastu and Lumbini as Indian territories in a mural displayed within India’s newly inaugurated parliament building. Bhattarai’s comments come amidst growing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

The controversial mural, which depicts the concept of “Akhand Bharat” (Undivided India), was recently unveiled by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the inclusion of Nepal’s historically significant sites as part of Indian territory has sparked criticism and raised questions about the impact on bilateral relations.

Bhattarai emphasized that portraying Lumbini and Kapilvastu as Indian lands could potentially strain the diplomatic ties between Nepal and India. He warned that this move might lead to unnecessary and damaging diplomatic spats with neighboring countries and further erode the trust deficit already existing in India’s relations with its closest neighbors.

Calling for transparency and effective communication from Indian political leadership, Bhattarai urged them to clarify the intention and impact of the mural promptly. He stressed that addressing the concerns and apprehensions of Nepal and other neighboring countries would help prevent further escalation of tensions.

The mural’s portrayal of Nepal’s sacred sites as part of India has prompted discussions about the significance of cultural heritage and the potential implications for regional diplomacy. It remains to be seen how the Indian government will respond to these concerns and whether they will take steps to address the issue in order to maintain harmonious relations with their neighbors.

As diplomatic discussions unfold, this controversy highlights the delicate nature of border disputes and territorial claims between neighboring countries and the importance of respectful and accurate representation of shared historical and cultural heritage.