KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane has been transferred to Kathmandu after spending 126 days in judicial custody at Rupandehi District Prison in Bhairahawa.
Lamichhane boarded a Buddha Air flight from Bhairahawa on Saturday, while party leaders, cadres, and supporters gathered at Tribhuvan International Airport to welcome him.
RSP spokesperson Manish Jha and vice-chair Swarnim Wagle, who were in Bhairahawa for party training, said they were denied permission by prison authorities to meet Lamichhane before his departure. However, Wagle later shared on social media that he managed to briefly speak with Lamichhane at the airport for about two minutes.
During the exchange, Lamichhane expressed gratitude towards the people of Bhairahawa, the prison administration, and security personnel for their support during his stay. He remarked, “Even if they take me to Mars out of political revenge, I will not be afraid. This is my country, my land. It does not matter where they try to take me.”
Lamichhane also noted that he had inscribed a message on the wall of his prison cell, reflecting on political struggle and resilience. He reiterated that while he had sought justice, what he faced was “political retaliation,” but stressed that he remains unafraid, trusting in the people’s mandate for change.
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