New Delhi: China has paid Rs 2.5 crore ( NPR) to various Nepal-based organisations to carry out demonstrations against India along the country's border with New Delhi that stretches to over 1,700 km, intelligence agencies said.
"Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu has provided financial support to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore (NPR) for organising anti-New Delhi protests along India-Nepal border areas highlighting the recent border disputes and interferences of New Delhi in the country's internal issues," the agencies stated.
The New Delhi-Kathmandu relations have been strained after Beijing increased its influence on the Himalayan nation.
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It was India's road construction to the Lipulekh at 17,000 feet that had sparked a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Nepal as Kathmandu claimed the area to be its territory. Lipulekh is a tri-junction between India, Nepal and China situated atop the Kalapani Valley in Uttarakhand.
The road construction was aimed at shortening travel time for pilgrims visiting the Kailash Mansarovar.
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After this, Nepal brought out a new political map showing the contested area as its own.
"Taking the strained relationship of India-Nepal as an opportunity, China, which is already having a border dispute with India in Eastern Ladakh, increased its troop deployment at Lipulekh," said a senior government officer.
China has deployed 150 Light Combined Arms Brigade and it was moved in August to the Lipulekh tri-junction. Beijing had also reinforced troops in Pala, around 10 km from the Indian border.
In July itself, around 1,000 troops were deployed near Pala and a permanent post was built there by China. In August, 2,000 more additional troops were deployed at the post.
India too directed its armed forces to increase deployment at Lipulekh tri-junction. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards India's Nepal and Bhutan border, has increased the deployment of 30 companies along the border with Kathmandu.
New Delhi has called for more vigilance on the India-Nepal border and the tri-junction areas in Uttarakhand and Sikkim, sources said, and extra troops have been sent to strengthen security in some of these areas.
Nepal has also directed its forces to "closely monitor" the activities of the Indian Army at the Lipulekh area amid escalating India and China border tension.
IANS
