Border bizmen won’t accept Nepal note with disputed map

Pithoragarh: Traders along the Indo-Nepal border in Uttarakhand have voiced strong opposition to Nepal's new Rs 100 currency note, which would include a map depicting the disputed regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura in Uttarakhand as Nepalese territory. Traders and businesspersons have vowed they will refuse to accept these notes in transactions even if it hurts business.Nepal Rastra Bank recently awarded China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation a $90 million contract to print 30 million 100-rupee notes, with an estimated printing cost of about $8.99 million. The move has reignited debate along the border areas in Uttarakhand, which has a "roti-beti" relationship with Nepal — many women from Uttarakhand and Nepal are married into families across the border, and hundreds from both sides depend on the other for work and trade.Hundreds of Nepalese citizens cross into Dharchula daily for work, often purchasing goods using Nepal's currency. While Indian traders have traditionally accepted Nepalese currency, they are now unwilling to take the controversial notes.Bhupendra Thapa, president of the traders' association in Dharchula, Pithoragarh, said, "These areas are an integral part of India, and Nepal's act is against the goodwill of both countries." He added that Indian traders are committed to rejecting these notes for trade.Sanjeev Joshi, a trader from Jhulaghat, expressed concern over Nepal's actions, describing them as counterproductive for both nations. "No Indian businessman would accept these controversial notes. These types of activities also disturb the normal relations between both countries," he said.The territory dispute between the two countries has been ongoing since the 1960s, resurfacing periodically. In May 2020, defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a strategic road linking the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand. This sparked protests from Nepal, which asserted that the road "crossed its territory". India dismissed Nepal's claims, maintaining that the road remained within its borders.Three months later, Nepal responded with a constitutional amendment, officially redefining its map to incorporate Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh, alleging that India took control of these territories following the 1962 border conflict with China.Foreign minister S Jaishankar, once referring to Nepal's unilateral action, said, "Our position is very clear. With Nepal, we are discussing our border matters through an established forum. In the middle of this, they have taken some unilateral steps on their part... But by doing something on their part, they are not going to change the situation or the ground reality between us."Pithoragarh: Traders along the Indo-Nepal border in Uttarakhand have voiced strong opposition to Nepal's new Rs 100 currency note, which would include a map depicting the disputed regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura in Uttarakhand as Nepalese territory. Traders and businesspersons have vowed they will refuse to accept these notes in transactions even if it hurts business.Nepal Rastra Bank recently awarded China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation a $90 million contract to print 30 million 100-rupee notes, with an estimated printing cost of about $8.99 million. The move has reignited debate along the border areas in Uttarakhand, which has a "roti-beti" relationship with Nepal — many women from Uttarakhand and Nepal are married into families across the border, and hundreds from both sides depend on the other for work and trade.Hundreds of Nepalese citizens cross into Dharchula daily for work, often purchasing goods using Nepal's currency. While Indian traders have traditionally accepted Nepalese currency, they are now unwilling to take the controversial notes.Bhupendra Thapa, president of the traders' association in Dharchula, Pithoragarh, said, "These areas are an integral part of India, and Nepal's act is against the goodwill of both countries." He added that Indian traders are committed to rejecting these notes for trade.Sanjeev Joshi, a trader from Jhulaghat, expressed concern over Nepal's actions, describing them as counterproductive for both nations. "No Indian businessman would accept these controversial notes. These types of activities also disturb the normal relations between both countries," he said.The territory dispute between the two countries has been ongoing since the 1960s, resurfacing periodically. In May 2020, defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a strategic road linking the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand. This sparked protests from Nepal, which asserted that the road "crossed its territory". India dismissed Nepal's claims, maintaining that the road remained within its borders.Three months later, Nepal responded with a constitutional amendment, officially redefining its map to incorporate Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh, alleging that India took control of these territories following the 1962 border conflict with China.Foreign minister S Jaishankar, once referring to Nepal's unilateral action, said, "Our position is very clear. With Nepal, we are discussing our border matters through an established forum. In the middle of this, they have taken some unilateral steps on their part... But by doing something on their part, they are not going to change the situation or the ground reality between us."