New Delhi, 02 June (H.S.): Ravi Lamichhane, Chairman of Nepal’s ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), met Nitin Nabin, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday. The two leaders held extensive discussions on India-Nepal relations, democratic values, and avenues for strengthening mutual cooperation.

Lamichhane, who arrived in India on Monday for a five-day visit at the invitation of BJP President Nitin Nabin, received a grand welcome at the BJP headquarters on Tuesday morning. BJP leaders and party workers greeted him with traditional cultural displays, flower garlands, and ceremonial drum performances. Among those present to receive him were BJP National General Secretary and headquarters in-charge Arun Singh, BJP Foreign Affairs Department head Vijay Chauthaiwale, and several other senior party leaders.

During the meeting, Nitin Nabin welcomed Lamichhane with a bouquet and presented him with a commemorative memento. In return, Lamichhane honoured the BJP president with a special tika brought from the revered Pashupatinath Temple, along with Rudraksha and Tulsi garlands, symbols of Nepal’s rich religious and cultural heritage.

Lamichhane also presented a finely crafted silver replica of the Pashupatinath Temple. The gift was widely viewed as a symbol of Nepal’s spiritual traditions, cultural identity, and the centuries-old civilizational ties shared by India and Nepal.

On the occasion, BJP leaders briefed Lamichhane on the structure and organizational framework of the party headquarters. Discussions also focused on strengthening party-to-party relations and expanding cooperation between political organizations in the two neighbouring countries.

According to the BJP, the primary objective of the visit is to establish deeper dialogue between the BJP and the RSP and facilitate the exchange of ideas on organizational functioning and people-centric political outreach. The interaction was organized under the BJP’s “Know BJP” initiative, which seeks to familiarize foreign political parties and diplomats with the party’s history, ideology, organizational structure, and working methods.

RSP leaders stated that the exchange of gifts was intended to highlight the shared cultural and spiritual heritage of Nepal and India and reinforce the deep-rooted bonds between the two nations.

The five-member Nepali delegation accompanying Lamichhane includes his wife Nikita Poudel, RSP Joint General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya, and party leaders Deepak Bohora and Pradeep Acharya.

During his visit, Lamichhane is also expected to interact with members of the Nepali community residing in India. He is scheduled to visit Ayodhya, where he will offer prayers at the Ram Mandir and participate in several religious and cultural programmes.

The visit is being viewed as particularly significant in light of recent developments in Nepal’s political landscape, at a time when both countries are seeking to provide fresh momentum to their diplomatic and political engagement and further strengthen their longstanding bilateral partnership.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar