Home Minister Lekhak Slams Rabi Lamichhane Over Alleged Visit Visa Misuse

Kathmandu – Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has warned that those party leaders and cadres who have misused visit visas should not lecture others about morality.

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives, Home Minister Lekhak accused Rabi Lamichhane, the president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, of misusing a visit visa, reminding the parliament that Lamichhane had previously visited the United States on a visit visa and subsequently obtained citizenship there.

Minister Lekhak said, “To those friends who have been raising this issue, I have heard something—perhaps those who are aware know it too, and I have knowledge of it. Honorable Rabi Lamichhane was once a member of this very esteemed House. I have heard that he once went to the United States on a visit visa. If someone goes as a visitor, it means they are going on a visit visa. Did he go to America as a visitor or not? If not, what kind of visa did he use? Please clarify. If he did go on a visit visa and stayed there to obtain citizenship, is that allowed? Is that not a misuse of the visit visa? And if a party leader has misused a visit visa, should the party’s cadres be lecturing others about morality? Shouldn’t questions of morality begin with oneself rather than expecting it from others? I had never mentioned this until today, but some of our friends seem to be leaning too far into what should not be done.”

He further urged that instead of expecting moral standards from others, one should start applying them to oneself.