“Formal objection conveyed”: Nepal on Biplab Deb’s “BJP expansion” remark

New Delhi: Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali on Tuesday said that a “formal objection” has been conveyed against Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s remarks that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned to expand in neighbouring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Replying to a Twitter user who shared a news report on Deb’s remarks, Gyawali said: “Noted. Formal objection has been already conveyed”.

Earlier in the day, Kathmandu Post reported that Nepal has taken exception to a recent statement by Mr Deb in which he quoted Home Minister Amit Shah as saying that BJP will expand the party in Nepal.

On Sunday, Deb said Shah once shared during a meeting with party leaders in Tripura about expanding the BJP to Nepal and Sri Lanka. Shah was BJP national president at that time, Deb said, adding that his visionary ideas transformed the BJP into the world’s largest political party.

“We were talking at the state guest house in Agartala, when [party leader] Ajay Jamwal said that most of the states have BJP in power. In reply, Amit Shah said Nepal and Sri Lanka are left. We need to win there as well,” said Deb, as he burst into laughter.

When HM was party chief, he had visited the state. We were sitting & talking. We said that we’ve so many states(BJP govt in several states). He said Sri Lanka & Nepal still remain. He said that we’ve to take party to Sri Lanka & Nepal too. We’ve to win there too: Tripura CM(13.2) pic.twitter.com/fWHiJpjlSH

— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2021

Referring to the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Deb said the BJP would come to power in both states. “There will be neither CPM nor Congress in Kerala anymore. Narendra Modi is going there and Amit Shah has already reached there. In Tamil Nadu too, we will form next government. There will be no government other than BJP,” said Deb.