KATHMANDU: Nine political parties, including the host Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), have jointly issued a seven-point statement following an all-party meeting held on Wednesday morning, pledging unity to safeguard national unity and social harmony.
The meeting was convened at Singha Durbar at the initiative of RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane. Leaders from various political parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and other participating parties, issued a joint statement after discussing the recent sensitive and tragic incidents in Sunsari and other districts and the tensions that followed.
In the statement, the parties expressed condolences to those who lost their lives in the recent incidents and extended sympathy to the bereaved families. They also wished for the speedy recovery of injured citizens and security personnel.
The parties appealed to citizens to maintain peace and social harmony, stating that Nepal’s identity lies in unity, tolerance, and coexistence among diverse communities. They urged people not to engage in activities or provocations that could disrupt longstanding social bonds, emphasizing that confrontation cannot resolve problems but only deepen them.
The statement called for peaceful dialogue and consensus as the only democratic means to address dissatisfaction and resolve complex issues. It urged all concerned parties to express their demands and grievances through peaceful means.
Similarly, the parties also called on their provincial, district, and local-level committees to organize all-party and stakeholder meetings to strengthen dialogue at the grassroots level. They emphasized the need for cooperation among religious leaders, civil society, and local administrations to maintain peace and build public trust.
At the central level, the political parties pledged to take necessary initiatives, coordinate continuously, and play a leadership role to prevent the recurrence of such sensitive incidents in the future.
The statement also urged citizens to use social media responsibly and called on media outlets to disseminate factual and balanced information, warning that misinformation, hate speech, and rumors could worsen the situation.
Drawing the attention of the Government of Nepal, the parties said protecting citizens’ lives and property is the state’s primary responsibility. They urged the government to restore normalcy by exercising maximum restraint, conducting impartial investigations, taking legal action against those responsible, and providing appropriate compensation and relief to victims.
Likewise, the parties affirmed their commitment to protecting national unity and social harmony and pledged to provide necessary support to the government and society for a sustainable, effective, and peaceful resolution of the current challenges.
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