Manisha Koirala lauds Nepal's move to issue new political map, gets trolled

KATHMANDU: Actress Manisha Koirala recently posted a tweet lauding Nepal government's move to endorse the issuance of a new political map incorporating Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani as its territories.

Thank you for keeping the dignity of our small nation..we all are looking forward for a peaceful and respectful dialogue between all three great nations now ? https://t.co/A60BZNjgyK

— Manisha Koirala (@mkoirala) May 18, 2020

What soon followed was a string of merciless trolling -- trolls attacking the actress for opining on the issue, which went as far as asking her to leave India. Some Indian TV news channels even went on to produce hourly specials slamming Koirala for speaking her mind.

One of such shows was Khaaengey India kaa, Gaaengey China ka (India will feed them but they will sing songs for China), in which the anchors seem to have been riled not only by Koirala standing up for her country but also because she included China's mention in her remark.

Nepali social media users, including some politicians and influencers, and many Indians too came to her defence stating that she has every right to opine on an out there geopolitical issue.

परराष्ट्रमन्त्री प्रदीप ज्ञवालीको @PradeepgyawaliK ट्वीटरमा जनाएको प्रतिक्रियालालाई लिएर भारतीय मिडिया एबिपी न्यूजले चर्चित अभिनेत्री नेपाली चेली मनीषा कोइरालामाथि तुच्छ भाषा प्रयोग गरेर गाली वर्षाएका छन् । hate speech को निष्कर्ष छ-खाते भारतका है, गाते चीनका है @theyatriji pic.twitter.com/ASbukGL0Nm

— Sarose Gautam (@gautam_sarose) May 20, 2020

Opinions on and reactions to the actress' tweet have been going around since she put her thought out in the open. Koirala however, has not reacted to the tweets against her or those in her favour, yet.

A Cabinet meeting held on May 18 had approved the issuance of a new political map incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani as Nepali territories. In a follow-up of this recent decision to endorse the issuance of the new political map, Government of Nepal officially unveiled the map today.

The controversy over Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura-Kalapani surfaced after the inauguration of a link road by India to connect it with Mansarovar of Tibet in China via Lipulekh region, which falls under the Nepali territory.

Government of Nepal raised an objection to the inauguration of the road while human rights activists, students and citizens carried out vehement protests claiming the region as Nepali land.