KATHMANDU: Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been in custody at the District Police Office Kaski for two weeks following his arrest in connection with a cooperative fraud case.
His detention has triggered a leadership crisis within the party, as Lamichhane has not assigned any leader the role of acting chairman in his absence.
In the interim, Vice Chairman Dolprasad (DP) Aryal is leading party meetings, while fellow Vice Chairman Dr. Swarnim Waglet is responsible for communications with other political parties and the public.
However, as Lamichhane’s detention continues, the momentum of the RS’’s movement has significantly diminished.
Despite initially mobilizing three to four thousand supporters during a week of protests in Pokhara, the party has struggled to sustain its efforts.
After pausing protests in Pokhara for a week, party leaders shifted their focus to Kathmandu.
While the agitation persisted for a few days, it has now slowed considerably, particularly due to the Tihar festival, which has dispersed many of the party’s leaders and workers.
Following the Chhath festival, the RSP has announced a halt to the agitation in Kathmandu, stating that future actions will be limited to general sit-ins and gatherings in Pokhara.
As a party that positions itself as a “new emerging power,” the inability to maintain pressure regarding Lamichhane’s arrest has led to speculation that the RSP is faltering after just two weeks.
The party has taken to the streets, alleging that Lamichhane was framed out of political revenge.
Amid ongoing protests, RSP leaders are actively seeking alternatives to keep Lamichhane out of custody while continuing the investigation.
With the case against Lamichhane now in the Kaski district court, it remains to be seen whether the lobbying efforts of RSP leaders will yield results.
Reports indicate that Aryal and other leaders have recently met with Prime Minister KP Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
During their meeting, the Prime Minister reportedly expressed frustration, questioning their presence given that the case is already in court.
Additionally, Aryal has expressed a desire to meet with former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Recent news has surfaced about a WhatsApp message he sent to the foreign minister’s private secretary, requesting that no meeting time be arranged.
The RSP team discussed the developments following Lamichhane’s arrest and the ongoing protests with Prime Minister Oli and Home Minister Lekhak.
Aryal confirmed that the purpose of their meetings was to update the government on the street movement, asserting that as a leader of the RSP, such discussions are natural.
“I asked the Prime Minister for updates regarding Lamichhane’s detention. I urged that the case be expedited and resolved without political retaliation,” Aryal stated.
“I also met with the Home Minister to request that our street protests not be suppressed or interrupted.”
He emphasized that meeting with government officials while the party chairman is in custody is a political necessity.
Why the interest in meeting Arzu?
Aryal, who has served as Minister of Labor twice, expressed his desire to meet with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana to discuss the labor issues facing Nepalese workers and the initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry of Labor.
However, due to Rana’s recent illness, she has been only intermittently available at the ministry, making it difficult for Aryal to schedule a meeting with her.
He remains hopeful that the secretariat will provide updates regarding a potential meeting.
“I need to engage in party activities. We are the fourth largest party in the country, and we must address the current situation. While I do want to meet the Foreign Minister, there is a specific reason for my request,” Aryal stated.
“The Labor Ministry is making several decisions that are detrimental to workers. Issues such as the verification of demand letters from Kathmandu, the e-seven visa, and the labor orientation training fee pose serious threats to workers.
Since these matters directly involve the Foreign Minister, I aim to meet with her to explain these concerns.”
Sewa Lamsal, the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has recently been recommended for an ambassadorial position.
In light of this, Aryal emphasized the importance of meeting the Foreign Minister, as she would possess crucial information on these matters.
Currently, Sharat Singh Bhandari serves as the Labor Minister. Aryal noted that Bhandari plans to verify demand letters and make decisions regarding the e-seven visa that may not align with legal standards.
Aryal recently sent a message to Kamal Rawal, expressing his desire to meet with the Foreign Minister.
The content of that message has since gone viral on social media.
Aryal mentioned that he intends to take legal action regarding the unauthorized dissemination of the message.
He added that the detention of RSP Chairman Lamichhane should not be linked to any activities of the RSP.
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