Ravi Lamichhane Meets with NSWP Chairperson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi
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Ravi Lamichhane, Chairperson of the ruling National Socialist Workers Party (NSWP), met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in Delhi.
On social media, Prime Minister Modi welcomed Lamichhane’s aspiration to work together for a shared and prosperous future, expressing full agreement with this initiative.
Modi further stated: “Under our neighborhood-first policy, Nepal remains a priority partner, and we are excited to collaborate with the new government to elevate the unique and multifaceted relationship between our two countries to new heights.”
The Indian delegation was represented by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and others.
The NSWP delegation included Lamichhane’s wife Nikita Paudel, MP Bipin Acharya, Deepak Bohora, and Surendra Thapa, Acting Ambassador at the Nepalese Embassy in Delhi.
Lamichhane departed for a five-day visit to India on Monday. He arrived in Delhi at the invitation of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Following Nepal’s recent election, which took place after the Gen G movement, the NSWP secured nearly a two-thirds majority, forming a powerful government. Lamichhane is the most senior leader to visit India since the political shift in Nepal.
Tensions Rise over Nepal-India Border Dispute
Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ made remarks in the House of Representatives on Sunday, stating that ‘Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory’, after which Lamichhane left for his India visit the very next day.
Lamichhane suggested that the United Kingdom could also play a role in resolving the Nepal-India border dispute.
However, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded stating that no third party will be involved in the Nepal-India border issue.
At a regular press briefing held on Tuesday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that border matters between Nepal and India are being resolved through existing bilateral mechanisms, thus negating the role of any third party.
During his visit, on Tuesday Lamichhane published an article in the English weekly ‘The Hindustan Times’ emphasizing that “the border dispute should not be prolonged” and that the issue should be resolved “through practical dialogue based on historical facts and mutual understanding.”
“Our greatest asset in transforming our foreign policy is that we carry no baggage from the past. We are not bound by old hostilities,” Lamichhane said.
A few weeks ago, government spokesperson and minister Sasmit Pokharel had stated that Lamichhane’s visit to India should not be linked with the Prime Minister’s travel plans.
“The Prime Minister travels to India whenever his schedule allows. Currently, he has not traveled to India or elsewhere,” Pokharel said responding to a journalist’s query.
“Our first 100 days are focused primarily on work due to a busy schedule.”
Visit Given Special Importance
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Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian government appear to have accorded special importance to Lamichhane’s visit.
On Tuesday, NSWP Chairperson Lamichhane met with BJP President Nitin Naveen. He also held meetings with India’s Home Minister Amit Shah and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.
It is generally said that Indian Home Minister Amit Shah does not usually grant immediate meetings to foreign leaders. His meeting with Lamichhane is therefore seen as a sign of the Indian government’s high regard for this visit.
Suhasini Haidar, diplomatic editor of the Indian newspaper The Hindu, tweeted: “A meeting with the Home Minister is a very rare opportunity for foreign leaders. The Prime Minister is expected to meet Lamichhane today. It is intriguing that after Nepalese Prime Minister Balen Shah’s harsh remarks and his refusal to meet Foreign Secretary Misri, Delhi is rolling out the red carpet for his party chief.”
After the meeting between Lamichhane and Amit Shah, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs posted on social media: “Both sides expressed a strong commitment to work together to enhance the special relationship between India and Nepal.”
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar mentioned during his meeting with Lamichhane that India and Nepal discussed development partnerships and people-to-people relations, which play a significant role in promoting development and prosperity.
Lamichhane described these meetings as “constructive.”
At the airport, BJP’s foreign affairs head Vijay Chauthaiwal and national general secretary Arun Singh welcomed the delegation led by Lamichhane.
Following NSWP’s electoral victory in Nepal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated both Chairperson Lamichhane and senior leader Balendra Shah (Balen) by phone.