New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of Nepal’s ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and welcomed his interest in working closely with India to advance a shared and prosperous future for both nations.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Delighted to meet the Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party of Nepal, Mr Rabi Lamichhane. I welcome and fully share his desire to work closely together for a shared and prosperous future.” He added that “Nepal is a priority partner under our Neighbourhood 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.”
The meeting underscores New Delhi’s continuing outreach to Kathmandu as both sides look to deepen cooperation across security, economic and people-to-people domains. It comes amid a series of engagements with the visiting Nepalese delegation.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Lamichhane and his team. The Union Home Ministry, in a post on X, said the Home Minister congratulated the RSP on its victory in the elections and conveyed India’s best wishes for the success of the new government. “Both sides expressed their firm resolve to work together for enhancing the special ties between India and Nepal,” the ministry added.
Following the meeting, Lamichhane said it was a pleasure to meet Shah and described the talks as constructive, focusing on strengthening the Nepal–India relationship, enhancing security cooperation and fostering greater collaboration between parties to promote democratic values and mutual interests.
As part of the BJP’s ‘Know BJP’ initiative, the Nepalese delegation also met BJP leader Nitin Nabin, who shared insights into the party’s organisational structure, approach to public engagement and Prime Minister Modi’s governance model. He highlighted the deep-rooted ties between India and Nepal, describing the relationship as one based on shared civilisational heritage, cultural affinity and strong people-to-people connections. Discussions also touched on the growing influence of Generation Z in politics and its role in shaping democratic participation and leadership.
India and Nepal share an open border, close cultural links and extensive economic interdependence. In recent years, both countries have focused on enhancing connectivity, expanding power trade, and streamlining cross-border movement to benefit citizens on both sides. Tuesday’s interactions signal renewed momentum to elevate the partnership, with an emphasis on practical cooperation and sustained dialogue at multiple levels.
With the Prime Minister reiterating Nepal’s priority status under the Neighbourhood First policy and the Home Minister emphasising collaborative security and people-centric initiatives, officials indicated that both sides are poised to intensify engagement in the coming months. Further working-level interactions are expected to translate the broad political intent into concrete outcomes.
The RSP’s leadership, for its part, has signalled readiness to partner with New Delhi in areas of mutual interest, from security coordination to democratic institution-building and youth engagement. The latest round of meetings is aimed at anchoring these aspirations in a structured roadmap to deepen the special India–Nepal relationship.
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