N24 Correspondent, KATHMANDU: Leaders of different political parties have called for scrapping the ‘unequal’ treaties signed with India so far which, according to them, challenge our national sovereignty. They also opined that these treaties were signed by the rulers merely as tools to remain at the helm of power.

Speaking in an interaction titled ‘Unequal Treaties and Issue of Nationality’ organized by the National Gathering Organizing Committee of the National Revolutionary Intellectuals Organization, Nepal, here on Friday, politicians and intellectuals said that nationality was weakening due to power hungry nature of the parties after joining the government, despite their vehement rhetoric on nationality and people’s democracy while in the opposition bench.

They alleged the present government of following the same line.

Vice-Chairman of CPN-Maoist CP Gajurel termed the signing of BIPPA and the joint military trainings held by the Nepal Army and the Indian Army as direct affront on Nepal’s nationality.

Similarly, Vice-Chairman of CPN (UML) Bamdev Gautam said national consensus should be forged to scrap all unequal and anti-national treaties signed so far with India.

Nepali Congress central leader Dr Narayan Khadka said clear policy on nationality at political level should be prepared and the mistakes made in the treaties should be reviewed.

Likewise, central leader of UCPN (Maoist) Shashi Shrestha said signing BIPPA with India this time was not relevant though the ‘sky will not fall’ with the signing of BIPPA.

Presenting his paper, Prof Ramesh Sharma said all the agreements from the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 to BIPPA of 2011 were against the nationality and national pride.

On the occasion, Dr Sundarmani Dixit, Hiranyalal Shrestha, Chetendra Jung Himali, agriculturist Bimal Kumar Baniya, coordinator of organizing committee Ekraj Bhandari and others said that different agreements were made with India to boost the Indian expansionism.