By Our Reporter
Installation of the “Akhanda Bharat” mural in the Indian Parliament building in New Delhi has made India’s neighbouring countries suspicious of the Indian intention. Nepali nationals have already launched a campaign for placing the “Greater Nepal” map in offices, and public places while Pakistan and Bangladesh have officially objected to the map.
Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah is the first Nepali leader to hang the map of ‘greater Nepal’ in his office after the India mural was kept in the Indian parliament.
The mural set in the new parliament building of India shows the map of Akhanda Bharat or ‘undivided India’ which includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
The mural created a huge stir in Nepal’s politics amid the India tour of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda. Many fear the controversy may become a big issue in future in the other neighbouring countries of India as well.
In the map, Nepal’s Lumbini is shown as part of the undivided India. Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha is a holy place for the people of Nepal and the Buddhists around the world.
Pakistan has objected to the idea of Akhand Bharat being pedalled by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in India. Commenting on the recent move by India to install the Akhanda Bharat mural in the new parliament building in New Delhi, the Spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “We are appalled by the statements made by some BJP politicians including a Union Minister, linking the mural with ‘Akhand Bharat’ (Unified greater India).” “The gratuitous assertion of ‘Akhand Bharat’ is a manifestation of a revisionist and expansionist mindset that seeks to subjugate the identity and culture of not only India’s neighbouring countries but also its own religious minorities,” said Baloch.
The mural depicts ‘ancient India,’ including areas that now constitute parts of Pakistan and other South Asian countries including Nepal. “It is a matter of grave concern that the idea of Akhand Bharat is being increasingly peddled by individuals belonging to the ruling dispensation in India. The Indian politicians are well-advised not to indulge in rhetoric against other countries merely to further their divisive and parochial political agenda,” said the Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson.
Bangladesh has sought an explanation for the ‘Akhand Bharat’ mural.
These all criticisms prompted External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar to defend the display of the mural depicting the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’ in the new Parliament building and said Pakistan does not have the power to understand it.
Reacting to Pakistan’s criticism, Jaishankar said, “The mural of undivided India shows the spread of the Ashoka empire and the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance. Pakistan cannot understand it because it does not have the power to understand.” He said the neighbouring countries will understand the meaning of the mural.
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