BIRATNAGAR: Chairperson of the main opposition, CPN (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, has said that he directly raised the Nepal–India border dispute with the Indian side for the first time.

Addressing a meeting of the Province Committee Secretariat in Biratnagar, the capital of Koshi Province, Prachanda said that during his last official visit to India as Prime Minister, he had seriously discussed the issues of Kalapani and Lipulekh.

“It was my government that made Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly declare that the Nepal–India border dispute should be resolved through dialogue,” he said. “You should understand this and also explain it to the people.”

Prachanda stressed that the current government should take forward the formal and public efforts initiated during his premiership to resolve sensitive border issues.

He further noted that informing the people about the positive steps taken by him as Prime Minister was the responsibility of party cadres.

“If our own comrades fail to highlight our achievements, distortions will prevail,” he remarked.

Highlighting the need for internal criticism and self-review, Prachanda warned that ideological confusion and indiscipline were creating challenges within the organization.

He also said he had taken seriously the concerns expressed by provincial leaders, adding that the party might have to confront major challenges ahead.