Nepal PM Oli defames India over returning migrants to offset his Covid-19 failures

Oli, without furnishing any proof once again, attacked India saying as quoted by The Kathmandu Post, "As per WHO protocol, those returning home should have been mandatorily tested before they crossed the border, which could have prevented the virus from spreading to the community."

He added, "Nepalis from India are entering without following rules and testing. This too has contributed to the further spread of Covid-19.”

Oli’s address to the nation comes amid criticism for his government’s failure to utilise the lockdown, which entered its 63rd day on Monday, to prepare properly to respond to Covid-19, reported The Kathmandu Post.

Earlier in a similar provocative and irrational remark, Oli, who represents Nepal Communist Party (NCP), had said the "Indian virus' looks more lethal than "Chinese" or "Italian" virus.

However on the work front, the Oli administration is yet to come up with a detailed plan to bring back the migrant workers from other countries.

"An order to bring a detailed plan and guidelines to bring back stranded Nepalis will be issued very soon," said Oli.

But till then the Nepal PM is leaving no stone un-turned to defame India with no evidence.

Oli's unjustified recent attack on India came after Kathmandu and New Delhi were at the loggerheads over Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limipiyadhura.

Last week, Nepal came out with a new political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under its territory, triggering a border dispute with India. 

Nepalese Foreign Ministry earlier expressed regret over inauguration of a faster route for pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, as it said that the road traverses Lipulekh, over which it lays claim.

Oli even dared to say in Parliament that Nepal would "bring back at any cost" the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh area.

Quite naturally, India responded strongly to Nepal's unjustified claim over the disputed region.

India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava, had said, "The Government of Nepal has released a revised official map of Nepal today that includes parts of Indian territory. This unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence." 

"It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India," he said launching a counter-attack on Kathmandu.