By PR Pradhan
A government’s prime duty is to protect the nation’s territory. However, in Nepal, the governments have committed a serious mistake by neglecting the country’s territorial issues, specially with India. This is the main reason why the Indians are shifting our border pillars in absence of the border security forces on the Nepali side. If we look at the Indian side, there is a huge presence of Seema Surakchya Bal as India has given top priority to its border issues. The Nepal government has deployed a very nominal number of border security force. Currently, the responsibility of protecting Nepali territory in Nepal’s international borders has been given to the Armed Police Force (APF). As the number of the border security force is very nominal, the distance between the two border security posts is about 10 kms, that too in the Tarai areas only. In remote areas, there are very few border posts and they too are being operated only during the summer season as in the winter season, our border security force cannot stay there. Border experts say that the distance between the two border security posts should be a minimum of 5 kms and there should be at least 30 security personnel in one post. So that they can inspect or monitor the border pillars and also monitor illegal as well as criminal activities taking place by taking benefit of open borders on a daily basis in the Tarai region. The government should increase facilities of those security personnel who are deployed in remote Himalayan ranges. The posts should be constructed with heating system so that the security personnel can stay there throughout the year. Also, the government should manage aircraft for aerial view of activities taking place in border areas. The government should give top priority in protecting Nepali territory at any cost. Of course it will increase the government’s expenditure, however, this is more important than providing unnecessary salaries and facilities to the elected people’s representatives, assigning advisors and aides to the PM and other ministers.
The open border with India is another mistake committed by both the countries. Borders have to be regulated and records should be kept on the movement of people from one country to the other. Both the countries should not make any compromises in keeping open borders and not monitoring them. Otherwise, both the sides may face negative consequences, more seriously, international terrorist groups may take benefit of the open borders and conduct terrorist activities in both the countries. Therefore, both the countries should remain alert and check and control every possibility of terrorist activities as well as smuggling practice taking place between Nepal and India.
Is Nepal’s effort enough to return Nepali territory in Darchula district?
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has informed that Nepal has sent a diplomatic note protesting against the new Indian map incorporating Kalapani, Lippulekh and Limpiyuadhara in Darchula district. Furthermore, the government has informed about the formation of a committee to inspect and give report on the present status of Nepal’s international borders with India and China. Surprisingly, the government has kept secret the names included in the border inspection committee. We are aware that if the government wants to shift responsibility, it constitutes a commission or committee to look into matters. Isn’t this committee being formed to defuse the ongoing demonstrations in Nepal against the Kalapani encroachment? The intention of the government is suspicious. On the other hand, the Indian political leaders are claiming that the territory included in the Indian political map belongs to India. This makes clear that India doesn’t want to quit from Kalapani.
Every time, Nepal is a loser
After inking the Sugauli Treaty, every time Nepal has been losing its territory. Nepal lost a big portion of territory from the one-sidedly imposed the Sugauli Treaty by the East India Company. Junga Bahadur Rana had constructed the Junge Pillars to demark Nepal-India borders. But the Indians denied to accept the Junge Pillars as the border line between the two countries. The Indians claimed more land by shifting border pillars overnight. In many of the districts bordering with India, Nepalis owned land has been gone to the Indian side. Locals say, the land belonged to their ancestors for centuries and they were paying the land tax to the Nepal government. This has happened due to the failure of producing documents related to Nepal-India borders by the Nepal government. Due to lack of necessary homework of the survey team attending the border meeting, the Indians got the opportunity to encroach on Nepali territories. Accordingly, Nepali officials’ petty interests for enjoying scholarship in Indian education institutions for the wards has also worked against Nepal for her to lose its territory.
About Birpur and Bhimnagar
During the Koshi agreement also, Nepal has lost a big portion of land. Local land owners in Nepal side have not received compensation for their land encroached in the name of construction of the Koshi Barrage. The Barrage is said to be constructed on the border-line between Nepal and India, but Nepal still has land on south of the present Koshi Barrage. Two cities at the bank of Koshi River were developed by Rana rulers Bir Shumsher and Bhim Shumsher. They are known as Birpur and Bhimnagar. They are now Indian cities in Bihar.
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