The stage of the Nepal–India Cross-Border Media Conclave 2025 in Birgunj turned unexpectedly heated on Friday when former Nepali Ambassador to Denmark, Vijay Kant Karn, delivered a veiled yet forceful critique of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Referring to the inclusion of the disputed “new political map” in Nepal’s Constitution during Oli’s tenure, Karn branded it a “political blunder.”

“By inserting the new map into the Constitution, Nepal committed a mistake,” Karn declared, arguing that the decision has left Nepal facing additional international pressure. His remarks drew sharper attention given their timing: Prime Minister Oli is currently on a five-day official visit to China, and it was under his leadership that the constitutional amendment enshrining the new map was passed.

Karn’s comments immediately triggered debate among journalists and stakeholders present at the conclave. Some agreed, framing his remarks as a candid acknowledgment of the weak legislative groundwork that led to the amendment. Others condemned the statement, calling it an affront to Nepal’s sovereignty. Several participants noted that the conclave, originally designed to promote cross-border media cooperation, had instead “reopened a wound on the border issue.”

Clarifying his stance, Karn stressed that while the media plays a critical role in fostering the growth and progress of both nations, “policy missteps of this kind complicate treaties and agreements.” His intervention underscored the importance of media as a bridge in Nepal–India relations, yet simultaneously laid bare his disapproval of Oli’s controversial decision.

As of now, no official response has come from Prime Minister Oli, who remains abroad. However, observers suggest his political temperament makes it unlikely he will take such criticism lightly.

The Birgunj conclave was convened to strengthen Nepal–India media cooperation, but Karn’s intervention has ensured that its significance will resonate far beyond its original agenda, pulling the event directly into Nepal’s constitutional debate and broader national politics.