Dispute has deepened between two factions of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) in the US over the invitation of Youth and Sports Minister Bablu Gupta to a youth conference scheduled in Dallas, Texas, on January 16.

The conflict centres on the January 16-17 event titled “Role of NRNA Youth in the Development of the Nepal Post Gen Z Revolution,” organised by the faction led by NRNA President Bikash Upreti. The Upreti faction confirmed that Minister Gupta was officially invited to the conference through the ministry.

Spokesperson for the faction Drona Gautam said the invitation aimed to include Gen Z participants in discussions on Nepal’s youth development. He accused the rival faction of creating unnecessary controversy to disrupt the programme.

The opposing faction, led by Satendra Sah, claims to be the official NRNA body in the US. It denied organising the conference or sending any invitation to Minister Gupta. “We have not invited anyone nor planned any programme,” Sah said, asserting that the Upreti faction’s actions were unauthorised.

The Sah faction’s spokesperson, Sandesh Upreti, criticised the programme as financially, socially, and legally improper. He said they are preparing to lodge complaints with the US Embassy in Nepal and the Department of Homeland Security.

The Upreti faction, however, maintained that the event will go ahead as scheduled on January 16 and 17, though Minister Gupta’s participation is not yet confirmed. Gautam reiterated that the invitation was meant to foster engagement with Gen Z and blamed the rival faction for attempting to politicise the programme unnecessarily.