Senior leaders of the major political parties Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have left nothing to take the credit of the new political map issued by including Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura inside Nepal borders. Though the new map has been unanimously endorsed from the House of Representatives, senior leaders of these three parties have been doing their best to take the credit. Top leaders of these three parties have made the new map their election agenda.

Addressing an election assembly in Darchula a few days ago, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli expressed his commitment among the people of the district that they would bring back the Nepali land included in the new map if his party emerged victorious in the upcoming elections.

Later, Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the new map was not issued by the single effort of Oli. Earlier, UML Chairman Oli had claimed that the new map of Nepal including Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura was issued only by his effort. Deuba and Dahal had publicly criticized Oli’s claim. Though the senior leaders of the major political parties have made Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura their election agenda, almost all of them are silent on the Nepal-China border issues. Only the Nepali Congress has mentioned the Nepal-China border issues in its election manifesto. There are border disputes in some districts of Nepal-China border while border pillars have been lost in some places. Experts have been claiming that there are border disputes especially in Humla, Gorkha and Dolakha with China. People of Humla, Gorkha, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha and Rasuwa among others districts have been facing problems in the border areas linked with Tibet of China. Ridiculously, neither the candidates of the major political parties have spoken publicly about the border issues and the problems faced by the people nor have they made their election agenda. Nepal has been facing a serious border problem in Humla. The government’s reports have also shown that China has encroached upon the border areas of Humla. Saying that China has encroached upon Nepali land from Lami Lapcha to Hilsa of Humla, the government had formed a study committee to investigate the same last year. The Home Ministry had formed a seven-member committee under the headship of Joint Secretary Jaya Narayan Acharya to find out the truth of the border issues seen with China in Humla. Acharya's team had pointed out that there is a border dispute with China in Humla. The report had suggested the Nepal government remove the fence installed by the Chinese side unilaterally. But, the government has been turning a blind eye to the suggestions and problems pointed out in the report. It has mentioned in the report that China has unilaterally constructed a building in the border area of Limi Lapcha. The study committee had suggested the government resolve the issues through a diplomatic channel. The Home Ministry, however, has kept the report confidential. Coordinator of the Study Committee Acharya had handed over the report to Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand. Acharya has been working as the Chief District Officer of Lalitpur at present. The concerned stakeholders have been expressing discontent for keeping the report secret. After the issues came to limelight, Nepal also drew the attention of Beijing. On July 14, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and China had held a virtual meeting. On the occasion, both sides had agreed to jointly inspect the border. But the inspection has not been held yet. Locals living on the border areas said that it is the fault of the major political parties that they have not been able to raise the border issues with China.