KATHMANDU, June 20: The government has instructed the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi to inquire about the Akhand Bharat (Undivided India) map and submit a report.

Foreign Minister NP Saud has said the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has been instructed to send a report about the mural (map) placed in the Indian parliament building. In the meeting of the International Relations Committee of the Federal Parliament held on Tuesday, he said that the embassy has been instructed to send a report after inquiring with the Indian side about the mural.

He also informed the committee that the mural placed in the newly constructed Indian Parliament building has a caption about the expansion of Emperor Ashoka's empire during his time.

"The Committee is aware that the official opinion of the Government of India has come from the Foreign Minister that this issue is not a political issue," he told the committee, "The Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has been instructed to discuss this matter with the Indian side and send a report."

He said that the government’s attention had been drawn toward the mural placed in the Indian Parliament building, and added that the committee, members of the committee and the government are all clear and firm on Nepal's international borders. "We have a national consensus on this issue," he said.

He also explained about the interview he had given to the Indian media about the mural during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent India visit. "I would also like to clarify about what I spoke on this matter in an interview given to an Indian media a few weeks ago," Foreign Minister Saud said, "At that time, the information related to the mural had not been fully received. In the absence of clear information, it was not the right time to make any concrete comments on the matter.”

He also made it clear that the government is fully committed to Nepal's sovereignty, national integrity, independence and international borders and not to let anyone encroach upon even an inch of Nepal's land.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal faced criticism for not addressing concerns about the controversial map during his visit to India.

 
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