Controversial "Ashoka's Empire" Mural Sparks Diplomatic Tensions in Newly Inaugurated Parliament Building

Former Nepalese Prime Ministers Baburam Bhattarai and KP Sharma Oli express concerns over mural's potential diplomatic impact.

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The government has downplayed the controversy surrounding a mural in the recently inaugurated Parliament building, which has sparked anger among Nepal's political leaders. The mural, depicting significant historical kingdoms and cities, has been interpreted by some BJP leaders as a symbol of the 'Akhand Bharat' concept, causing tensions.

Former Prime Ministers of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai and KP Sharma Oli, expressed concerns over the inclusion of Kapilavastu and Lumbini on the mural, warning about potential "unnecessary and harmful diplomatic disputes."

"The mural in question depicts the spread of the Ashokan empire. It's people-centric," stated the Ministry of External Affairs.

Nepalese leaders express concern over mural

In a tweet, Mr. Bhattarai expressed his concern, stating, "It has the potential of further aggravating the trust deficit already vitiating the bilateral relations between most of the immediate neighbors of India." Similarly, Mr. Oli, as quoted by The Kathmandu Post, expressed his view that the installation of the 'Akhand Bharat' mural in the Indian Parliament "was not fair."

Nepal-India relations: Controversy amidst Bilateral visit

The controversy arose during the visit of Nepal Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal "Prachanda," who arrived in India for an official four-day visit. During the visit, Prime Minister Dahal met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed India's commitment to strengthening the relationship with Nepal. However, the Nepalese side did not raise the issue, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Artistic depiction of Ashoka's Empire in the mural

The mural on display represents the glorious reign of Ashoka, the esteemed Mauryan emperor. Spanning from Afghanistan to Bangladesh, his empire encompassed most of the Indian subcontinent, excluding Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka. The artwork garnered attention as prominent BJP leaders, such as Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, shared it within the newly inaugurated Parliament House.

"The resolve is clear – Akhand Bharat," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Twitter.

"Akhand Bharat in New Parliament. It represents our powerful & self-reliant India," Manoj Kotak, Lok Sabha member from Mumbai North-East, said on Twitter.

What is Akhand Bharat?

'Akhand Bharat', described as a "cultural concept" by the RSS, refers to the historical undivided India, which encompassed regions like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The RSS now emphasizes that the contemporary interpretation of 'Akhand Bharat' should be viewed in a cultural context rather than a political one, considering the partition of India based on religious lines during Independence.

During the inauguration of the new Parliament building by PM Modi on May 28, he emphasized that it symbolizes the vision of "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat."