Fact Check: Nepal’s Protest Over India’s Lipulekh Pilgrimage Resumption

Claim 1 – Nepal lodged a protest on Sunday Evidence: Both Al Jazeera and the Times of India reported that Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs filed a formal protest on Sunday, condemning India’s move to restart the pilgrimage through the contested Lipulekh Pass. Verdict: True. Analysis: Two independent outlets confirmed the same diplomatic action on the same date, with no contradictory reports, establishing the claim’s accuracy.

Claim 2 – Nepal’s claim rests on the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli Evidence: Nepal’s foreign ministry cited the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, signed with British India, as the legal basis for its claim that Lipulekh Pass belongs to Nepal. The Times of India repeated this statement verbatim. Verdict: True. Analysis: Direct quotations from Nepal’s officials link the territorial claim to the historic treaty, and no source disputes this linkage.

Claim 3 – India will allow 500 pilgrims to cross via Lipulekh Evidence: Reports from Al Jazeera and the Times of India state that India plans to permit 500 Hindu pilgrims to travel through Uttarakhand and cross into China at Lipulekh Pass for the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage. Verdict: True. Analysis: Both sources provide the same specific figure and route details, and no alternative figures have emerged, confirming the claim.

What to watch next Monitor diplomatic talks between Kathmandu and New Delhi for any escalation or resolution, and watch for updates on the pilgrimage’s implementation this season.