Kathmandu — Discussions have arisen regarding the visa status of Ravi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and former Home Minister, who reportedly traveled to the United States on a visitor visa. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has urged lawmakers to help ascertain the facts.
Speaking at the House of Representatives session on Wednesday, Minister Lekhak said, “I have received information that Ravi Lamichhane traveled to the United States on a visitor visa. However, if that is not true, then it is important to clarify what type of visa he held.”
He also questioned whether it is possible to acquire citizenship of the country on a visitor visa. Minister Lekhak expressed that party leaders or workers who have obtained citizenship by staying in the United States on a visitor visa should not preach moral lessons to others. He stated, “Those who have gone on a visitor visa and acquired citizenship abroad — can they rightly teach morality to others?”
Minister Lekhak further clarified that the list of people accompanying the Prime Minister on official visits is prepared based on the Cabinet’s decision and is shared in advance. He urged the concerned authorities to publicly disclose who among the delegation returned and who did not. “If the list cannot be provided, speculation and false assumptions will only complicate matters further,” he added.
