Kathmandu June 10 :

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said India has occupied Nepal’s Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani areas by stationing its army there and that the government would take back these territories through diplomatic means. PM Oli said this while responding to the queries raised by parliamentarians in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives during the deliberation on various titles related to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), National Planning Commission Secretariat, Office of President and Vice-President under the Appropriation Bill-2077 BS. He informed the parliament that talks will also be held with India regarding the disputes seen in several other border areas and the structures it has unilaterally constructed on the border as well. The PM opined that there was delay in receiving the report prepared by the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) constituted to study the Nepal-India issues and present suggestions as India did not show interest in it. On a different note, the PM stated that the cooperation of all the state agencies was required in the fight against COVID-19 and the Nepal Army has been mobilised in that connection since the Army was also one of the organs of the state and as all the state organs have been mobilised in the situation of national crisis. He clarified that the role of the Ministry of Home Affairs has not been usurped in any way. PM Oli said the Army was now towards becoming self-sufficient in logistics that it required and this should not be construed as commercialization of the Army. Expressing dismay at several individuals linking the government with various business groups in a baseless manner, he urged one and all to speak out only by taking cognizance of the reality. He stated that the MCC Compact with the US was done by the previous government and that its legality would be followed unless the present government made any other decision on it. PM Oli said action would be taken against the guilty after investigation if any misappropriation was found in the process of purchasing medical goods. Prime Minister Oli stressed that the President should be taken as a respected institution and he has taken the protests against the President in the pretext of petty matters as the protest directed against the republic. Stating it was inappropriate to say that more budget was allocated to the district and constituency represented by the Prime Minister and the ministers, the PM reiterated that he was for the development of the entire country. He explained that the delay in appointment of office-bearers in some constitutional commissions was because he was trying to do so forging consensus. He added that the appointments to these bodies would be made soon. Lawmakers Dr Amaresh Kumar Singh, Rangamati Shahi, Prem Suwal, Durga Poudel, Prakash Man Singh, Gagan Thapa, Balkrishna Khand, Uma Regmi, Prbata DC Chaudhary, Sanjaya Kumar Gautam, Dev Prasad Timilsina, Pradip Yadav, Mahendra Kumari Limboo, Rajendra Prasad Lingden, Umakanta Chaudhary, Dilendra Prasad Badoo, Sarita Giri, Dr Minendra Rijal, Rajendra Kumar KC and Laxmi Pariyar had sought clarifications on the reply by the Prime Minister on the occasion.