Kathmandu — Contradictory statements issued by two rival factions of the Non-Resident Nepali Association in the United States (NRNA-America) regarding the upcoming visit of Minister for Youth and Sports Bablu Gupta have sparked political controversy in Nepal, exposing unresolved internal divisions within the diaspora body and raising serious questions about their impact on Nepal’s diplomacy.
Although the Non-Resident Nepali Association formally announced reunification on November 24 after years of division, the merger has remained largely symbolic, as several National Coordination Councils (NCCs), including the United States, continue to function in parallel. This unresolved fragmentation has now directly affected a sitting minister of the Government of Nepal.
Two separate entities claiming legitimacy as NRNA NCC USA have issued mutually contradictory public statements concerning Minister Gupta’s planned visit to the United States, scheduled for Magh 30.
Two NRNA-America factions, two opposite claims
The NRNA-America faction led by Bikash Upreti issued a statement confirming that Minister Gupta had been formally invited to the United States to participate in a program titled “Role of NRNA Youth in the Development of Nepal Post-Gen-Z Revolution”, to be organized in Dallas, Texas. The group stated that the visit would involve dialogue with Nepali youth abroad and that all expenses would be borne by the organizers, with no financial burden on the Nepali state.
However, the rival NRNA-America faction chaired by Satendra Shah issued a strongly worded statement categorically denying any invitation to Minister Gupta. The statement warned of alleged misuse of the organization’s name, EIN number, and digital platforms, and went further by threatening to report the matter to the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Embassy in Nepal.
The statement, issued by spokesperson Sandesh Upreti, claimed that no youth-related program had been approved or organized by their NCC and described any such activities as illegal and unauthorized.
Diplomatic embarrassment and political fallout
Despite the denial from one faction, Minister Gupta is preparing to travel to the US based on the invitation extended by the former NRNA-US structure aligned with Bikash Upreti. This public contradiction has led to criticism that NRNA stakeholders are dragging Nepal’s internal political rivalries into the international arena, diminishing the dignity of a sitting minister and complicating Nepal’s diplomatic posture.
Political observers say that instead of strengthening diaspora-state engagement, the ongoing power struggle within NRNA-America has weakened institutional credibility and created confusion among diplomatic missions, host governments, and the Nepali community abroad.
“This is not merely an internal diaspora dispute. When a minister’s foreign visit becomes publicly contested, it directly affects Nepal’s diplomatic image,” said a senior foreign affairs analyst.
Unfinished reunification at the core
The roots of the controversy lie in the unfinished reunification process of NRNA. Although NRNA presidents Dr. Badri KC and Mahesh Shrestha signed a unity agreement in the presence of Prime Minister Sushila Karki in November, the agreement has not been fully implemented at the NCC level.
The division, which originated from a membership dispute during the 10th General Convention, continues to manifest through parallel committees, rival spokespersons, and competing claims of legitimacy.
As long as these structural contradictions persist, analysts warn that similar incidents could recur, potentially undermining Nepal’s soft diplomacy, diaspora engagement, and ministerial credibility in the international sphere.
