Map in India's new Parliament a cultural one, not political: PM Prachanda

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Wednesday said that he raised the issue relating to the 'Akhanda Bharat' map kept in India's new Parliament during his visit to New Delhi and the Indian side clarified that it was a cultural map and not a political one.

Prachanda made the remarks in Parliament when the opposition lawmakers slammed him for not raising the issue of 'Akhanda Bharat' map, which, they claimed, also consists of Nepal's territory.

"While talking about the map during my India visit, the Indian side said it was a cultural map, not a political one. Further study should be carried out on the issue," he said while responding to the questions raised by the lawmakers.

Prachanda said he mentioned the map during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said it was a cultural map not a political one.

India has downplayed the issue of a mural in the new Parliament building, describing it as an artwork that depicted the spread of the prehistoric Ashok