New Delhi: India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, criticized Nepal for its unilateral action in introducing a new Nepalese Rupee 100 currency note featuring three disputed Indian territories. Speaking at an event in Bhubaneswar, Jaishankar stated that Nepal's move wouldn't alter the diplomatic situation between the two countries.

Jaishankar emphasized that India and Nepal were in discussions about their boundary matters through an established platform. He mentioned that Nepal's unilateral measures wouldn't change the situation or the reality on the ground. On Friday, Nepal announced the printing of a new Nepalese Rupee 100 currency note featuring a map showing the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani. India has previously termed this move as "untenable" and an "artificial enlargement".

Nepal's government spokesperson, Rekha Sharma, informed the media that the decision to redesign the currency note was made during the cabinet meetings held on April 25 and May 2. Diplomatic tensions between Nepal and India escalated in 2020 after Nepal updated its map to include the three disputed territories. The move was made by Nepal's Ministry of Land Management, with the Department of Survey claiming to have incorporated the territories with accurate scale, projection, and coordinate system. However, India had already included these territories in its November 2019 map.

The situation worsened further after the inauguration of a road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh on May 8, 2020. Nepal objected to this move and handed over a diplomatic note to India. Prior to this, Nepal had raised objections to India's unilateral decision to construct the road. In response to Nepal's objections, India's External Affairs Ministry clarified that the road passing through Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district lies entirely within Indian territory. Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Sikkim.

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