Updated: October 25, 2020 2:09:28 pm
Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli (File photo)
Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was at the center of a new controversy on Saturday after the use of the old map of the country on his greeting card of Vijaya Dashami, which had the national emblem and his portrait printed on it.
Following the escalation of the border dispute with India this summer, Nepal released a new map to include areas of the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
The Opposition criticized him for using the old map on the card, saying he was trying to “backtrack on the issue, undermining the spirit behind the national consensus on the territorial issue.”
Surya Thapa, the prime minister’s press adviser, said the map on the greeting card was the new one, but due to its small size, the new areas were not visible.
Six weeks ago, Oli had ordered the school textbooks that included the new map removed. India and Nepal are trying to mend ties, seriously strained after Nepal published its new map.
Earlier this week, Oli had a lengthy meeting with the Indian head of R&AW, Samant Kumar Goel, and the leaders of his own party were furious that he did not keep them informed. Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane is scheduled to visit Nepal next month.
.
