PM Modi meets RSP leader Rabi Lamichhane, says Nepal is priority partner under Neighborhood First policy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Rabi Lamichhane, president of Nepal’s ruling Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and described Nepal as a “priority partner” under India’s Neighborhood First policy. The meeting constitutes an important awareness-raising effort in a context of recent tensions in relations between the two neighbors.

The meeting also assumes significance as India-Nepal relations have faced turbulence in recent months due to the long-standing territorial dispute between Kalapani-Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura and Nepali Prime Minister Balen Shah’s remarks on border encroachments. Friction resurfaced after Nepal objected to India using the Lipulekh route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, saying the area fell under its territory. India has rejected the allegation, saying Nepal’s position is not supported by historical facts and evidence.

In this context, Lamichhane’s visit is seen as an attempt to reopen political channels between the two sides and stabilize ties under Nepal’s new leadership.

“Delighted to meet the President of Rashtriya Swatantra Party of Nepal, Mr. Rabi Lamichhane. I welcome and fully share his desire to work closely for a shared and prosperous future. Nepal is a priority partner under our Neighborhood First policy and we look forward to collaborating with the new government to elevate the special and multifaceted relationship between our two countries to greater heights,” PM Modi wrote on X.

Lamichhane, a former journalist, described the interaction as an hour-long productive conversation and said he shared Prime Minister Modi’s vision of taking bilateral relations into a new phase focused on development and connectivity.

“I share your vision of a future where Nepal and India transcend the constraints of the past to embrace a new era of development diplomacy. By focusing on shared civilizational bonds, digital corridors and seamless connectivity, we can truly build a partnership defined by progress and mutual trust,” he tweeted.

RSP DELEGATION TO INDIA MEETS BJP LEADER

Lamichhane’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi took place after an RSP delegation arrived in Delhi on Monday following an invitation from BJP president Nitin Nabin. On Tuesday, Lamichhane was given a warm welcome at the BJP headquarters, where he met Nabin and other senior party leaders. The visit marked the first formal interaction between the BJP and the RSP since the Nepali party came to power in March after a Gen Z movement toppled the government led by pro-China leader KP Sharma Oli.

Officially, Lamichhane’s visit to India is part of the BJP’s ‘Know BJP’ initiative aimed at fostering cross-party engagement. However, its strategic importance has attracted attention as it comes at a time when communication between the ruling authorities in New Delhi and Kathmandu has been limited after Balen Shah came to power.

The BJP should view this engagement as an opportunity to establish a regular political channel with Nepal’s ruling party, especially since Balen Shah has largely stayed away from any direct engagement with foreign delegations.

Despite periodic tensions, Nepal remains deeply interconnected with India through trade, infrastructure, energy cooperation and people-to-people ties. The two countries share an open border that stretches nearly 1,800 kilometers, making stable relations crucial for both sides.

Recent strains in relations have focused on the disputed areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh Pass and Limpiyadhura. While Balen Shah had previously taken a strong nationalist stance on territorial issues, he recently acknowledged in the Nepalese Parliament that border encroachments were not a unilateral issue, saying that India and Nepal had “encroached” on each other in certain areas. The remarks marked a shift from his previous stance and sparked a huge debate in Nepal, with many calling for him to resign.

In this context, Lamichhane’s visit and meeting with Prime Minister Modi is seen as a signal from both sides that despite political differences and unresolved differences, there is a desire to preserve the broader strategic partnership and keep the avenues of dialogue open.

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