RSP says almost 2.5 million people have signed in support of Rabi Lamichhane
Kathmandu, July 18 – The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has claimed that nearly 2.5 million people have signed a petition backing its president Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in judicial custody over a cooperative fraud case.
At a press conference on Thursday at the party’s central office in Baneshwor, RSP said it has so far collected 2,457,618 signatures as part of a campaign it describes as a protest against what it calls “state-led political retaliation” against Lamichhane.
RSP leader Deepak Bohora said the signature drive, which started on June 21, will now expand to the grassroots level. Starting July 21, the party will launch a door-to-door campaign across municipalities, districts, and provinces to build more public support.
Lamichhane is currently being held in Bhairahawa prison under pre-trial detention related to the cooperative scam. The RSP insists that the case is politically motivated and has been rallying support from politicians, artists, and the general public.
To expand its outreach, the party plans to set up support desks at major Nepal-India border points like Kakarbhitta, Raxaul, Jogbani, Belahiya, Jamunaha, and Gaddachauki, as well as at airports, bus parks, and other busy public areas.
In Rupandehi-3, where a by-election is coming up, the RSP will conduct the campaign in all 36 wards through booth-level outreach.
The party also said the signature campaign is running internationally.
Province-wise Breakdown of Signatures:
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Bagmati: 639,086
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Gandaki: 439,723
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Lumbini: 236,595
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Koshi: 166,861
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Sudurpaschim: 94,535
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Karnali: 43,775
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Madhesh: 20,505
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RSP Central Office: 33,370
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Online and Other Platforms: 790,230
The party also revealed that it has collected Rs. 4.61 million in donations for the campaign, but has already spent about Rs. 5.9 million, resulting in a financial shortfall.
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