Cross party lawmakers on Monday slammed suspended Indian Member of Parliament of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Kirti Azad’s contentious comment that Janakpur is part of Indian territory.

Replying to the queries raised by lawmakers during the House of Representatives meeting today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali said the government has taken serious exception to Azad’s remarks and the attention of the Indian government will be informed about the issue. He said the remark attempted to deteriorate the relationship between the two countries. Former cricketer and member of the Indian team that won 1983 World Cup, Azad, made the claim via twitter last Friday that Janakpur was part of Indian territory and that his party leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should raise the issue during his visit to Nepal.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had condemned Azad’s comment in the House meeting on Sunday.

Minister Gyawali told the House that the government also has taken serious objection to the statement made by Chief Minister of Province-2 Mohammad Lalbabu Raut during the civic felicitation to Modi. “International affairs in an exclusive authority and responsibility of the federal government,” Gyawali told the House. “The local and provincial government must take consent of the federal government while making any diplomatic dealings.” Gyawali said Raut’s statement on the Constitution of Nepal was against the national interest and political and diplomatic culture.

Nepali Congress (NC) MP Minendra Rijal asked the government why the Province-2 CM who enjoys CPN-UML support made the controversial remark before Modi. “We might have some problems however it is up to us to resolve them. I hope the concerned friends must have understood the fact that there is no any change possible with the interest or influence from the outside,” Gyawali said answering Rijal’s concern.

NC MP Amresh Kumar Singh also demanded government’s response to Azad’s statement. Gyawali claimed holding one-to-one meeting is an international practice. Giving instance of recent meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jingping he told the meeting between PM Oli and his counterpart should not be looked skeptically. He claimed that officials from his ministry were present in the meeting to take notes. Claiming that the visit has helped strengthen the relationship between two countries Gyawali said there are still many issues that need to be resolved. “We have Eminent Persons Group studying different issues related to border and the 1950’s treaty to name a few,” he said, adding the Group will find solution to the broader differences between the two neighbouring.