Indian lawmaker enters Nepal with armed guards, creates furore

An MLA from Bihar created outrage in neighbouring Nepal after he entered the country accompanied by armed bodyguards on a day when Nepal celebrated the New Year, launching a major tourism campaign.

Sarfaz A Alam, a Member of Bihar's Legislative Assembly, who represents Jokihat constituency, arrived at Bhardaha of Saptari district in southern Nepal along with his armed bodyguards yesterday.

When Nepal Armed Police Force personnel stopped him he said that he entered the Nepalese territory unknowingly.

The act offended many as armed guards accompanying Indians are not supposed to cross over into Nepal.

Nepal, meanwhile, kicked off its much-talked about tourism campaign to mark Nepal Tourism Year 2011, welcoming 10 foreign tourists, including four Indians.

The four Indians and two Australians were among the first persons to enter Nepal through the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu as part of the tourism promotion campaign.

Nepal is observing Nepal Tourism Year 2011 and is aiming to attract one million tourists. The formal inauguration of the campaign will take place on January 14.

Two elderly women and two men from India, who arrived on a Delhi-Kathmandu flight, were among the 10 foreigners who were provided a free night stay and complementary meals in a bid to promote tourism, said president of Nepal Hotel Enterpreneurs Association Amrit Bhujel.

The number of visitors' arrival by air in Nepal grew by 18.5% to 448,769 in the year 2010 as compared to the previous year.

The number of Indian visitors also grew by 23.3% to 104,470, according to Nepal Tourism Board.