After ‘new map’, Nepal PM slams India, says Indian virus “looks more lethal than Chinese and Italian now” 

In what seems to be a terse jibe at India, Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli in his parliament speech said that the (corona)virus from India "looks more lethal" than Chinese and Italian one, a report in NDTV said.

In his first address in parliament after the coronavirus outbreak, Oli on Tuesday said, “those who are coming from India through illegal channels are spreading the virus in the country and some local representatives and party leaders are responsible for bringing in people from India without proper testing.”

“It has become very difficult to contain COVID-19 due to the flow of people from outside. Indian virus looks more lethal than Chinese and Italian now. More are getting infected,” Nepal PM added.

His comments almost immediately after a controversy erupted on the new map that Nepali cabinet has approved have reportedly perplexed New Delhi and have outraged officials in India.

“Nepal would "bring back at any cost "the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh area, which is part of Indian territory”, PM Oli said in the same speech.

Recently the Nepal cabinet has incorporated in its new political map the areas of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani which are part of the Indian territory.

Nepal claims right on Lipulekh Pass on the basis of 1816 Treaty of Sugauli entered with the British colonial rulers to define its western border with India. India and Nepal share a 1,800 km (1,118-mile) open border.

Nepal had registered its protest after India inaugurated a new road on May 8 connecting the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand with the Kailash Mansarovar route in China.

The road going through Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district "lies completely within the territory of India, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had argued.

Under the present project, the same road has been made pliable for the ease and convenience of pilgrims, locals, and traders," Indian foreign ministry said.