The inauguration of the new Indian Parliament seems to be marred with a fresh controversy, this time a diplomatic one, over a mural inside the building that shows all the key kingdoms and ancient cities portraying ancient India. 
&nbsp; 
One of the cities shown in the mural which drew severe criticism is Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The mural, appears to have come from the concept of 'Akhand Bharat', a term that refers to the undivided India whose geographical area included present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.

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This concept is espoused by Hindutva nationalists envisaging that the neighboring countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka would become part of India.

<h2>Nepalese leaders protest over controversial mural</h2>

With the holy site of Lumbini being one of the crucial cultural centres in Nepal, the leaders of the nation are now protesting for the removal of the mural from the new Parliament building.&nbsp;Nepal's former PM KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday urged PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal also known as “Prachanda” to discuss this with the Indian officials and urge them to get the mural removed from the new Parliament building.&nbsp;

Lumbini reflects the shared cultural relationship between India and Nepal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba in May last year participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a Centre of Buddhist Culture and Heritage at this holy site on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.

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Nepal's opposition CPN-UML party leader Oli reacted over the mural saying, “That is not fair,” reported The Kathmandu Post.

“If a country like India that sees itself as an ancient and strong country and as a model of democracy puts Nepali territories in its map and hangs the map in Parliament, it cannot be called fair,” he added in a statement at his party’s headquarters.

<h2>Kalapani dispute&nbsp;</h2>

India and Nepal have been at a diplomatic standstill on the issue of Kalapani. Both countries lay claim to the territory which is located in the easternmost corner of Pithoragarh district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

In November 2019, India published a revised political map that showed Kalapani as part of the Pithoragarh district. Agitated by this, the Nepali leaders registered their protest and brought that up with the Indian officials.&nbsp;

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Another diplomatic jolt was felt in India-Nepal relations when on 8 May 2020, India inaugurated a strategically crucial link road connecting the Darchula-Lipulekh pass link road that passes through the Kalapani region. At the time, Kathmandu summoned the then-Indian envoy to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, to register the protest.&nbsp;

<h2>Pakistan reacts over mural controversy</h2>

One of the other cities that the mural shows is the ancient city of Taxila or Takshashila, which is presently in Pakistan but was a part of India. The country's foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed the map and expressed astonishment over the mural at the ministry's&nbsp;press conference.

"The gratuitous assertion of 'Akhand Bharat' is a manifestation of a revisionist and expansionist mindset," a statement by the ministry said.&nbsp;

<h2>India-Nepal bilateral ties&nbsp;</h2>

The protest by the Nepali leaders comes at a time when Prachanda is visiting India are taking place at a time when Kathmandu and New Delhi are looking forward to bolstering diplomatic ties by resolving the remaining border issues.&nbsp;

Nepali PM who is in India for a four-day visit held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi where the latter said the nations will continue to work to take the bilateral relations to the height of the Himalaya and will resolve all the issues, be it the boundary issue or any other issue.&nbsp;

"I am happy to share that the partnership between India and Nepal has been a super hit,” PM Modi said.&nbsp;

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The inauguration of the new Indian Parliament seems to be marred with a fresh controversy, this time a diplomatic one, over a mural inside the building that shows all the key kingdoms and ancient cities portraying ancient India.

The inauguration of the new Indian Parliament seems to be marred with a fresh controversy, this time a diplomatic one, over a mural inside the building that shows all the key kingdoms and ancient cities portraying ancient India. One of the cities shown in the mural which drew severe criticism is Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The mural, appears to have come from the concept of 'Akhand Bharat', a term that refers to the undivided India whose geographical area included present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. Also Read | Indian scientists discover 62 plants that can live without water in Western Ghats This concept is espoused by Hindutva nationalists envisaging that the neighboring countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka would become part of India. Nepalese leaders protest over controversial mural With the holy site of Lumbini being one of the crucial cultural centres in Nepal, the leaders of the nation are now protesting for the removal of the mural from the new Parliament building. Nepal's former PM KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday urged PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal also known as “Prachanda” to discuss this with the Indian officials and urge them to get the mural removed from the new Parliament building. Lumbini reflects the shared cultural relationship between India and Nepal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba in May last year participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a Centre of Buddhist Culture and Heritage at this holy site on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti. Also Read | US: Mumbai 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana challenges order of his extradition to India Nepal's opposition CPN-UML party leader Oli reacted over the mural saying, “That is not fair,” reported The Kathmandu Post. “If a country like India that sees itself as an ancient and strong country and as a model of democracy puts Nepali territories in its map and hangs the map in Parliament, it cannot be called fair,” he added in a statement at his party’s headquarters. Kalapani dispute India and Nepal have been at a diplomatic standstill on the issue of Kalapani. Both countries lay claim to the territory which is located in the easternmost corner of Pithoragarh district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. In November 2019, India published a revised political map that showed Kalapani as part of the Pithoragarh district. Agitated by this, the Nepali leaders registered their protest and brought that up with the Indian officials. Watch | Hollywood star Bruce Willis' daughter Tallulah talks about her father's daily battle with dementia × Another diplomatic jolt was felt in India-Nepal relations when on 8 May 2020, India inaugurated a strategically crucial link road connecting the Darchula-Lipulekh pass link road that passes through the Kalapani region. At the time, Kathmandu summoned the then-Indian envoy to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, to register the protest. Pakistan reacts over mural controversy One of the other cities that the mural shows is the ancient city of Taxila or Takshashila, which is presently in Pakistan but was a part of India. The country's foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed the map and expressed astonishment over the mural at the ministry's press conference. "The gratuitous assertion of 'Akhand Bharat' is a manifestation of a revisionist and expansionist mindset," a statement by the ministry said. India-Nepal bilateral ties The protest by the Nepali leaders comes at a time when Prachanda is visiting India are taking place at a time when Kathmandu and New Delhi are looking forward to bolstering diplomatic ties by resolving the remaining border issues. Nepali PM who is in India for a four-day visit held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi where the latter said the nations will continue to work to take the bilateral relations to the height of the Himalaya and will resolve all the issues, be it the boundary issue or any other issue. "I am happy to share that the partnership between India and Nepal has been a super hit,” PM Modi said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'Akhand Bharat' mural row: Nepali leaders get irked, urge Prachanda to raise issue with Indian officials

In a surprise and unexpected decision, Nepal's Supreme Court on Sunday annulled the unification of the ruling Nepal Communist Party's factions and paved the way for them to be divided into two separate parties.&nbsp;

Passing a verdict on legitimacy of Nepal Communist Party challenged by veteran Communist leader Rishiram Kattel in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the original Nepal Communist Party or NCP is headed by Kattel and not Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli or the faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal or 'Prachanda'. The Supreme Court decided to award the Nepal Communist Party leadership to Kattel.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court's decision has pushed Nepal’s ruling party into a state of confusion and disarray.&nbsp;

Quashing the Election Commission’s decision to award the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leadership to Oli and Dahal, the top court has said the then CPN-UML and then CPN (Maoist Centre) would return to the pre-merger stage and if they were to merge, they should apply to the Election Commission as per the Political Parties Act. Oli's CPN-UML and Dahal's CPN (Maoist Centre) had announced their merger in May 2018.&nbsp;

"The Supreme Court's ruling came beyond our expectations," Prachanda said, adding that "we cannot comment on it without going through the detailed text of the verdict." The Prachanda-led faction also held an emergency meeting after the verdict.&nbsp;

But the Oli faction is happy with the verdict. Oli's CPN-UML was the largest party in 2017 election. Later it merged with Prachanda-led CPN (Maoist Centre) and formed the Nepal Communist Party in 2018 and became the largest party in the Parliament with almost two-third seats.&nbsp;

"We respect the verdict, we believe in the independence of the judiciary," party secretary general and Finance Minister, Bishnu Poudel said.&nbsp;

Both Oli and Prachanda factions are functioning as two parties though they have not technically split after Prime Minister Oli dissolved the House on December 20 and declared snap polls. Oli's decision has created a furor and opposition inside the ruling party.&nbsp;

The Prachanda-led faction has already claimed legitimacy with the Elections Commission saying it has a majority of the central committee members. But the Election Commission could not take a decision on the party split because Oli is also claiming the same.&nbsp;

Kattel had challenged the Election Commission's decision to register Nepal Communist Party (NCP) under Oli and Dahal in May 2018.&nbsp;

The bench has said that the new party cannot be registered with the Election Commission when it already has a party registered with a similar name.&nbsp;

The decision came just hours before the scheduled meeting of the House of Representatives where the two factions of the Nepal Communist Party are battling to show their majority.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a surprise and unexpected decision, Nepal's Supreme Court on Sunday annulled the unification of the ruling Nepal Communist Party's factions and paved the way for them to be divided into two separate parties.

In a surprise and unexpected decision, Nepal's Supreme Court on Sunday annulled the unification of the ruling Nepal Communist Party's factions and paved the way for them to be divided into two separate parties. Passing a verdict on legitimacy of Nepal Communist Party challenged by veteran Communist leader Rishiram Kattel in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the original Nepal Communist Party or NCP is headed by Kattel and not Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli or the faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal or 'Prachanda'. The Supreme Court decided to award the Nepal Communist Party leadership to Kattel. The Supreme Court's decision has pushed Nepal’s ruling party into a state of confusion and disarray. Quashing the Election Commission’s decision to award the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leadership to Oli and Dahal, the top court has said the then CPN-UML and then CPN (Maoist Centre) would return to the pre-merger stage and if they were to merge, they should apply to the Election Commission as per the Political Parties Act. Oli's CPN-UML and Dahal's CPN (Maoist Centre) had announced their merger in May 2018. "The Supreme Court's ruling came beyond our expectations," Prachanda said, adding that "we cannot comment on it without going through the detailed text of the verdict." The Prachanda-led faction also held an emergency meeting after the verdict. But the Oli faction is happy with the verdict. Oli's CPN-UML was the largest party in 2017 election. Later it merged with Prachanda-led CPN (Maoist Centre) and formed the Nepal Communist Party in 2018 and became the largest party in the Parliament with almost two-third seats. "We respect the verdict, we believe in the independence of the judiciary," party secretary general and Finance Minister, Bishnu Poudel said. Both Oli and Prachanda factions are functioning as two parties though they have not technically split after Prime Minister Oli dissolved the House on December 20 and declared snap polls. Oli's decision has created a furor and opposition inside the ruling party. The Prachanda-led faction has already claimed legitimacy with the Elections Commission saying it has a majority of the central committee members. But the Election Commission could not take a decision on the party split because Oli is also claiming the same. Kattel had challenged the Election Commission's decision to register Nepal Communist Party (NCP) under Oli and Dahal in May 2018. The bench has said that the new party cannot be registered with the Election Commission when it already has a party registered with a similar name. The decision came just hours before the scheduled meeting of the House of Representatives where the two factions of the Nepal Communist Party are battling to show their majority. (With inputs from agencies)

Nepal’s Supreme Court annuls unification of NCP factions

Nepal's caretaker PM KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday expressed his gratitude for India for providing coronavirus vaccines to Nepal. India has dispatched one million doses of Covishield vaccine within a week of its rollout in India. On Wednesday, Nepal launched its innoculation drive. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the inoculation drive in Kathmandu, Oli thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing vaccine doses to Nepal.

"We got an early chance to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. For this, I extend my gratitude to our neighbour: India, its people and government and especially to Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They sent the vaccine to us within about a week of its roll out in India," Oli said.

The inauguration ceremony was held virtually. Oli said that with the help of vaccines, the inoculation drive in Nepal will be completed within three months.

In the first phase of the vaccination drive, the government is inoculating the `Covishield` vaccine gifted by India to around 450,000 frontline workers, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.Last week, the Government of India gifted a million doses of the `Covishied` vaccine to Nepal.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-kicks-off-coronavirus-inoculations-with-indian-vaccine-359644">Nepal kicks off coronavirus inoculations with Indian vaccine</a>

The vaccine was jointly developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca -- a British-Swedish pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company. It has been branded as `Covishield` in India, and is produced by the Serum Institute of India.

(With agency inputs)

Nepal's caretaker PM KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday expressed his gratitude for India for providing coronavirus vaccines to Nepal. India has dispatched one million doses of Covishield vaccine within a week of its rollout in India.

Nepal's caretaker PM KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday expressed his gratitude for India for providing coronavirus vaccines to Nepal. India has dispatched one million doses of Covishield vaccine within a week of its rollout in India. On Wednesday, Nepal launched its innoculation drive. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the inoculation drive in Kathmandu, Oli thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing vaccine doses to Nepal. "We got an early chance to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. For this, I extend my gratitude to our neighbour: India, its people and government and especially to Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They sent the vaccine to us within about a week of its roll out in India," Oli said. The inauguration ceremony was held virtually. Oli said that with the help of vaccines, the inoculation drive in Nepal will be completed within three months. In the first phase of the vaccination drive, the government is inoculating the `Covishield` vaccine gifted by India to around 450,000 frontline workers, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.Last week, the Government of India gifted a million doses of the `Covishied` vaccine to Nepal. Also Read | Nepal kicks off coronavirus inoculations with Indian vaccine The vaccine was jointly developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca -- a British-Swedish pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company. It has been branded as `Covishield` in India, and is produced by the Serum Institute of India. (With agency inputs)

Nepal PM thanks India for coronavirus vaccines

Greetings poured in from all corners of the world for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who turns 70 today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wishing him good health, happiness, well-being and success. Putin said he values the kind, friendly relations that have developed between the two over the last few years.&nbsp;

“Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on your 70th birth anniversary,” he wrote.

“Under your leadership, India is successfully moving along the path of socio-economic, scientific and technical development,” he said.

Prime Minister of Nepal, K P Sharma Oli also conveyed his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday.

Oli said that the two leaders will continue to work closely together towards strengthening relations between India and Nepal.

"Warm greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji on the auspicious occasion of your birthday. I wish you good health and happiness. We will continue working closely together to further strengthen relations between our two countries," Oli said in a tweet.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Apart from the wishes, 70,000 samplings, 70 kg laddoo have been offered in a Coimbatore temple and BJP is targetting to create a million selfie videos, all to wish the Prime Minister Narendra Modi a happy 70th birthday. Narendra Modi, born on September 17, 1950, marks a personal milestone during his tenure as the Prime Minister.

(With inputs from agencies)

Greetings poured in from all corners of the world for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who turns 70 today. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wishing him good health, happiness, well-being and success.

Greetings poured in from all corners of the world for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who turns 70 today. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wishing him good health, happiness, well-being and success. Putin said he values the kind, friendly relations that have developed between the two over the last few years. “Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on your 70th birth anniversary,” he wrote. “Under your leadership, India is successfully moving along the path of socio-economic, scientific and technical development,” he said. Prime Minister of Nepal, K P Sharma Oli also conveyed his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. Oli said that the two leaders will continue to work closely together towards strengthening relations between India and Nepal. "Warm greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji on the auspicious occasion of your birthday. I wish you good health and happiness. We will continue working closely together to further strengthen relations between our two countries," Oli said in a tweet. Meanwhile, Apart from the wishes, 70,000 samplings, 70 kg laddoo have been offered in a Coimbatore temple and BJP is targetting to create a million selfie videos, all to wish the Prime Minister Narendra Modi a happy 70th birthday. Narendra Modi, born on September 17, 1950, marks a personal milestone during his tenure as the Prime Minister. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Narendra Modi’s 70th birthday: Wishes pour in from world leaders

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal's central secretariat meeting scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled as two senior ministers are in self-isolation after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa are self-isolating at home after a staffer at the Crisis Management Center (CCMC) tested positive for the virus. Both ministers are the members of the CCMC.

A source close to the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) said the decision to stay in home isolation was taken as a precautionary measure as the staffer had recently attended a CCMC meeting in Kathmandu.

Both Pokharel and Thapa regularly attend the CCMC meetings as key members of the body constituted by the government to ensure effective measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/reform-process-of-sri-lankan-constitution-would-be-underway-very-soon-minister-323876">Also read|&nbsp;Reform process of Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon: Minister</a>

Both the ministers have already undergone tests to check if they have contracted the virus, a senior member of the CPN Standing Committee said, adding that the new date of the meeting will be fixed as soon as their reports arrive.

The ministers are also the members of the nine-member Secretariat body of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). The meeting was supposed to deliberate and endorse the report submitted earlier by a six-member panel headed by General Secretary Bishnu Paudel to resolve the intra-party feud in the CPN.

This is the second time the Secretariat meeting of the NCP has been postponed recently. The meeting was earlier deferred for Saturday as another senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal was in home isolation after nine security personnel, including his driver, tested positive for the virus.

The CPN is passing through a crisis after senior leaders of the party including executive chairman Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda&nbsp;demanded that K P Sharma Oli resign from both as Nepal's Prime Minister and the party chief.

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal's central secretariat meeting scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled as two senior ministers are in self-isolation after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal's central secretariat meeting scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled as two senior ministers are in self-isolation after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa are self-isolating at home after a staffer at the Crisis Management Center (CCMC) tested positive for the virus. Both ministers are the members of the CCMC. A source close to the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) said the decision to stay in home isolation was taken as a precautionary measure as the staffer had recently attended a CCMC meeting in Kathmandu. Both Pokharel and Thapa regularly attend the CCMC meetings as key members of the body constituted by the government to ensure effective measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Also read| Reform process of Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon: Minister Both the ministers have already undergone tests to check if they have contracted the virus, a senior member of the CPN Standing Committee said, adding that the new date of the meeting will be fixed as soon as their reports arrive. The ministers are also the members of the nine-member Secretariat body of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). The meeting was supposed to deliberate and endorse the report submitted earlier by a six-member panel headed by General Secretary Bishnu Paudel to resolve the intra-party feud in the CPN. This is the second time the Secretariat meeting of the NCP has been postponed recently. The meeting was earlier deferred for Saturday as another senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal was in home isolation after nine security personnel, including his driver, tested positive for the virus. The CPN is passing through a crisis after senior leaders of the party including executive chairman Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda demanded that K P Sharma Oli resign from both as Nepal's Prime Minister and the party chief.

Nepal ruling party's Standing Committee meeting postponed

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'Akhand Bharat' mural row: Nepali leaders get irked, urge Prachanda to raise issue with Indian officials

Nepal’s Supreme Court annuls unification of NCP factions

Nepal PM thanks India for coronavirus vaccines

PM Narendra Modi’s 70th birthday: Wishes pour in from world leaders

Nepal ruling party's Standing Committee meeting postponed