KATHMANDU, Oct 30: Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been in police custody since his arrest on October 18 for his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of cooperative funds. The RSP has viewed his arrest as 'political revenge,' prompting ongoing protests that have transitioned from Pokhara to daily demonstrations in Kathmandu.
RSP leaders are vocally criticizing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, with some adopting confrontational tones. Despite their aggressive rhetoric, it appears RSP leaders are internally seeking Lamichhane’s release and an end to the investigation against him.
While publicly denouncing the government, RSP leaders seem to be navigating a dual strategy: rallying support on the streets while quietly lobbying for political intervention behind the scenes.
Only on Monday evening did it come to light that RSP Vice Chairman Dol Prasad Aryal met with Home Minister Lekhak at Singha Durbar. Aryal also visited Prime Minister Oli at his official residence in Baluwatar that same evening.
Prime Minister Oli's Press Coordinator Ramsharan Bajgain confirmed the meeting. "DP and Santosh Pariyar (chief whip of RSP Parliamentary Party) had come for the meeting. I do not know what they talked about with the prime minister."
At the time of Lamichhane’s arrest, Aryal stepped into the leadership role of RSP. Sources indicate that during discussions with the home minister and prime minister, Aryal requested an end to the investigation against Lamichhane, urging them to avoid political retribution. RSP leaders reportedly hope that, at the very least, Rabi could be released from custody while investigations continue.
Writ petition filed against Rabi Lamichhane
As police actions progressed in Lamichhane’s case, RSP leaders felt compelled to engage with the government. An arrest warrant was issued against Lamichhane, who is under investigation for embezzlement of funds of Surya Darshan Cooperative in Pokhara, as well as other cooperatives in Butwal, Chitwan, Kathmandu, and Birgunj.
Money was traced back to these cooperatives during Lamichhane’s tenure as the managing director of Gorkha Media Pvt Ltd. Sources indicate that while Lamichhane was detained for an extended period during the investigations, RSP leaders lobbied with the government to diminish the severity of the inquiries.
Leaders from the ruling CPN-UML party have openly criticized these actions by RSP leaders. UML leader Bishnu Rijal took to Facebook, asserting that the case against Lamichhane will not be dropped due to such activities of RSP members.
"The friends of RSP constantly insult the prime minister and engage in disgraceful acts like burning effigies and directly slander him. With what face do they go to Baluwatar at night to plead for Rabi Lamichhane's release?" UML leader Rijal questioned. He wrote, "You must be cautious — politics requires patience and integrity. The law will take its course. As requested by Mr Dol Prasad and Mr Santosh to the honorable prime minister, it is not possible to withdraw the case at his discretion.”
51 RSP activists detained from Baluwatar
Police detained 51 activists of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) who reached Baluwatar, Kathmandu, to protest against the government. They were taken into custody after they breached prohibitory orders while protesting in Baluwatar.
Following the arrest of RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane on October 18 for his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of cooperative funds, the agitating RSP decided to stage a demonstration in Baluwatar on Tuesday. The leaders and activists of the party gathered at Nepal House in Baluwatar for the protest. Police declared the Nepal House as a prohibited area for protest.
After the RSP leaders and cadres attempted to enter the prohibited area, they engaged in a tussle with the police, which led to the detention of 51 protesters. Among the detainees, member of the Federal Parliament Ashok Chaudhary, central committee members Pukar Bam and Ram Krishna Bhattarai, chairman of the Kathmandu chapter of the party, Pradip Bista, and chairman of the Lalitpur chapter of the party, Buddha Ratna Maharjan, are considered top leaders of the RSP.
According to the spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office (KVPO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Binod Ghimire, of the 51 RSP leaders and cadres detained, 19 were kept at Maligaun Police Circle, 25 at Maharajgunj Police Circle and the remaining seven at Durbarmarg Police Circle.
“The 19 detained at Maligaun and 25 at Maharajgunj have already been released,” SP Ghimire informed Republica, “The seven detainees at Durbarmarg will also be released after assessing their misdemeanors.” He added that the activists detained for entering the prohibited area were released while the ones who engaged in the tussle with the police are being considered for further action.
RSP Acting General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti confirmed that party leaders Birendra Shrestha, Dhurba Dhakal, Nabraj Bhandari, Raksha Rayamajhi, Sahil Priyas, Sabi Khadka, Daya Ram Nepal, Surendra Raj Awale, Sailendra Khatri, Umesh Lama, Khushi Ram Kaini and Nabraj Mudwari were also detained by the police.
At the protest, RSP supporters chanted slogans, sang songs, recited poems, used satires and speeches in order to make the demonstration more creative. Vice-Chairman of the RSP Dr Swarnim Waglé, former education minister Sumana Shrestha, chief whip of the RSP Parliamentary Party, Santosh Pariyar, and lawmaker Sobita Gautam addressed the program.
Similarly, Vice-Chairman Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal led the protest rally and concluded the demonstration with a speech. The party’s predetermined demonstration program schedule was affected after the police intervened.