India’s relations with Nepal soured following China’s increased influence in domestic politics of the Himalayan country

The anti-India protests carried out in Nepal along the Indo-Nepal border recently were funded by China, says Sputnik news.

The Russian news portal quotes a senior Indian intelligence officer as saying that China paid $213,100 to various organisations in Nepal to demonstrate against India along the 17,00 kilometres long border between the two countries. Funds were provided to these agencies by the Chinese embassy in Nepal.

“It is learnt that Chinese Embassy in Nepal has provided financial support to several organisations to conduct anti-India protests or demonstrations along India-Nepal border areas highlighting the recent border disputes and interferences of India in Nepal's internal/political matters. China has provided funds worth Rs 25 million (NPR) ($213,100) to these organisations,” the official said.

China and Nepal have not yet given any clarification or commented on these allegations.

India’s relations with Nepal soured following China’s increased influence in domestic politics of the Himalayan country. On May 8, 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 80-km road connecting the Lipulekh Pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand. Objective behind the road construction was shortening of travel time for pilgrims visiting the Kailash Mansarovar.

So far enjoying warm relations with India, Nepal vehemently objected to the road construction. It claimed Lipulekh, a tri-junction between Nepal, China and India as its territory.

It didn’t stop at that alone; in June, the Himlayan country’s parliament passed a new Map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as part of Nepal’s territory.

Protesting over the move, Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “This artificial enlargement of claims is not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. It is also violative of our current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues.”

Relations between the two countries further worsened when Nepal increased its force deployment along the border, compelling India to make increased presence of armed forces at the Lipulekh tri-junction.