Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane returned to Kathmandu on Friday after wrapping up his five-day official visit to India. Talking to journalists at a press conference upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Lamichhane emphasized that the future of Nepal-India relations must shift toward economic collaboration and mutual benefit, moving past old diplomatic constraints.
The visit, which comes on the heels of the RSP’s strong performance in the March parliamentary elections, was marked by rare, high-level engagements usually reserved for visiting heads of government. During his India visit, Lamichhane held bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
RSP President further shared that his discussions with top Indian leadership centered heavily on development diplomacy, connectivity, economic coexistence, and equal partnership grounded in cooperation, equality and mutual benefit, leaving behind old diplomatic baggage.
Addressing his party's domestic priorities upon his return, Lamichhane stated that the RSP remains unyielding in its commitment to the public mandate. "We are committed to our election manifesto in letter and spirit," Lamichhane told reporters at the airport. "We are committed to stability, transparency and good governance, and prosperity, as per the mandate given by the people during the March 5 elections."
This high-level reception in New Delhi reflects the RSP's emergence as a dominant political force following the March parliamentary elections. India's prompt, top-tier welcome signals New Delhi's intent to actively engage with the newly formed Nepal government.
Beyond the political meetings in New Delhi, the RSP delegation also engaged with the Nepali diaspora community in India and made a cultural visit to the historic city of Ayodhya before returning to Kathmandu.
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