Nepal-India diplomacy limited to control damage by controversial remarks of leaders

Diplomats at the foreign ministries of Nepal and India have been forced to control damage wreaked by unwarranted and false claims of the politicians in their respective countries instead of sitting for a dialogue to resolve the border dispute.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday was forced into damage control mode following the false claims of its minister S Jaishankar that Lord Buddha was Indian less than a month after the Foreign Ministry in Nepal similarly had to clarify about the controversial remarks by Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli that the real birthplace of Ram now lies in a village to the west of Birgunj in Nepal.