Rabi Lamichhane, the President of Nepal’s ruling Rastryiya Swatantra Party (RSP), is set to travel to India on June 1-2. He will be in New Delhi for two days upon the invitation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin. During his visit, Lamichhane is scheduled to meet with BJP President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishanker, among other leaders.
The RSP, which holds a significant majority in Nepal’s lower house, is currently governing Nepal with strong Gen-Z support. The visit by the ruling party’s chief to India is seen as a natural progression, especially amidst escalating tensions between Kathmandu and New Delhi over recent events. Nepal has raised objections to actions by both India and China, including the issue of Indian pilgrims visiting a disputed region without Nepal’s consent.
Bilateral relations between Nepal and India have faced challenges, with issues such as customs duties and trade regulations causing strains. Despite an invitation from Prime Minister Modi, Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has not rushed to accept the offer. Shah, who assumed office on March 27, is reportedly waiting to address pending bilateral matters before making the trip to India.
Former Nepali ambassador to India, Lok Raj Baral, highlighted the importance of fostering political understanding between Nepal and India, emphasizing the need to address lingering bilateral issues. The RSP’s foreign policy approach, given its recent formation in 2022, remains a subject of curiosity, with Prime Minister Shah affirming a commitment to Nepal’s traditional foreign policy principles.
