Rabi Lamichhane Meets Indian Leaders Amidst Border Controversy

During his five-day visit to India, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane received a grand welcome from the Indian government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi. Lamichhane, who arrived in New Delhi on Jestha 18 at the invitation of BJP leader Nitin Naveen, held meetings with high-level officials including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

It is rare for the BJP to accord such a grand welcome to the chairman of a party from a neighboring country. Amidst the controversy generated by Prime Minister Balendra Shah's statement regarding the Nepal-India border, the high importance given to Lamichhane is being viewed with significant diplomatic meaning. Here is an edited excerpt of an interview conducted by Ratopati correspondent Ganesh Pandey with Nilambar Acharya, former ambassador of Nepal to India, on this very issue: