India rejects Nepal’s objection to pilgrimage by way of Lipulekh Cross
India on Sunday rejected Nepal’s objection to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra being performed by way of Lipulekh Cross in Uttarakhand, saying Kathmandu’s declare on the area was not justified or based mostly on historic details.
Earlier on Sunday, the Nepal authorities despatched diplomatic notes to India and China objecting to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage’s route via Lipulekh Cross, which Kathmandu claims as its territory. Nepal’s international ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri stated his nation’s issues had been conveyed to each neighbours via diplomatic channels.
Exterior affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to Nepal’s claims associated to frame points within the context of the annual pilgrimage to a holy mountain and lake in Tibet area by saying India’s place on the matter has been constant and clear.
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“As regards territorial claims, India has persistently maintained that such claims are neither justified nor based mostly on historic details and proof. Such unilateral synthetic enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” Jaiswal stated.
Lipulekh Cross has been a long-standing route for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra since 1954 and the pilgrimage via this route is “not a brand new growth”, he stated.
“India stays open to a constructive interplay with Nepal on all points within the bilateral relationship, together with on resolving agreed excellent boundary points via dialogue and diplomacy,” Jaiswal stated.
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The pilgrimage was additionally performed via Lipulekh Cross in 2025, when it was resumed after a niche of 5 years as a part of efforts by India and China to normalise their relations following the top of a chronic navy stand-off on the Line of Precise Management (LAC).
The pilgrimage is about to happen from June to August. Ten batches, every consisting of fifty pilgrims, will journey via Lipulekh Cross in Uttarakhand state, and one other 10 batches, additionally consisting of fifty pilgrims, will journey via Nathu La in Sikkim state.
Nepal’s international ministry spokesperson claimed that underneath the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, the areas of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani are integral components of Nepal. He stated Nepal had urged India to chorus from all actions within the area, together with street building, border commerce and pilgrimages.
