NEW DELHI, (PTI):-  India on Sunday trashed Nepal’s objection to conduct of upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the decades-old route of Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and asserted that such “unilateral artificial enlargement” of territorial claims is “untenable”.

New Delhi’s sharp reaction came hours after the Nepal foreign ministry issued a statement strongly objecting to India and China making preparations for the annual pilgrimage via Lipulekh Pass without consulting Kathmandu, which claims the region belongs to it.

Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will take place from June to August via two routes — Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La in Sikkim.