RSP Chairman Lamichhane to Visit India on June 1, Likely to Meet Prime Minister Modi

Kathmandu — Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane is set to embark on a visit to India. He is scheduled to depart for New Delhi on June 1 for a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. However, both sides have yet to make a formal announcement regarding the visit.

He will be the first senior leader from the ruling coalition to visit India since the formation of the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The visiting delegation will include Lamichhane’s wife Nikita Paudel, his personal secretary, and two RSP lawmakers — Bipin Kumar Acharya and Deepak Bohara.

High-Level Meetings Including with Modi on the Agenda

During the visit, Lamichhane is scheduled to hold meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and BJP President Nitin Naveen, among other high-ranking officials, according to sources. New Delhi sources have indicated that a meeting between Lamichhane and Modi has been proposed for June 2.

Background: Tensions in Nepal-India Relations

The visit comes against the backdrop of some tensions between Nepal and India. India had expressed indirect concerns over the Lipulekh border dispute and the imposition of customs duties on goods imported from India priced above 100 rupees. It was in this context that the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Misri to Kathmandu, scheduled for May 11, was also postponed.

However, New Delhi sources have stated that Lamichhane’s visit should not be linked to the recent tensions in bilateral relations. “This visit has been planned to maintain high-level contact with the new Nepali leadership,” a source said.

Government Urges Not to Link Visit with Prime Minister’s Travel

Meanwhile, government spokesperson and Education Minister Sashmit Pokharel has stated that Lamichhane’s visit should not be linked with the Prime Minister’s visit. “He is going in a personal capacity. It would be wrong to associate this with an official government visit. This has no connection with the Prime Minister’s visit,” Pokharel said.

Prime Minister Shah has not undertaken any foreign visits since assuming office. “The Prime Minister will visit India when the right time comes. At present, his focus is entirely on domestic affairs,” Pokharel added.

According to Nihar Nayak, Associate Professor at Delhi University, Lamichhane’s visit will strengthen Nepal-India relations at both the government and party levels. “At a time when the Prime Minister is preoccupied with internal matters and has no immediate plans for foreign travel, a party-to-party visit can be highly meaningful,” he said.

Sources also confirmed that Lamichhane’s itinerary includes a visit to Ayodhya.