Amid rising tensions in Sunsari, Nepal's major political parties have jointly appealed to the public to uphold mutual brotherhood and social harmony, and to refrain from any actions that could further inflame tensions.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the parties said Nepal's identity is rooted in unity amid diversity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

"We sincerely appeal to all citizens not to be swayed by provocations or any activities that could undermine the mutual brotherhood and social harmony that have long defined our society," the statement said. "We must recognise that anger and confrontation do not resolve problems. They only make them more complicated."

The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the recent violence in Sunsari and other national issues. The meeting was attended by Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa; Nepali Communist Party coordinator and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal; CPN-UML general secretary Shankar Pokharel; Shram Shakti Party general secretary Aren Rai; Loktantrik Samajbadi Party chairman Mahantha Thakur; Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairman Rajendra Lingden; Janamat Party chairman CK Raut; and Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal leader Prakash Adhikari.

The leaders expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life in the recent violence in Sunsari and paid tribute to those killed. They also wished a speedy recovery to all civilians and security personnel injured in the incidents.

The parties also called for peaceful dialogue, saying that negotiations remain the only democratic way to resolve grievances and disputes.

"In a democracy, no matter how serious the dissatisfaction or disagreement, lasting solutions can only be achieved through peaceful dialogue and consensus," the statement said, urging all concerned to pursue their demands through peaceful means.

Saying that efforts by the federal government alone would not be sufficient to restore calm, the parties directed their provincial, district and local committees to immediately convene all-party and multi-stakeholder meetings across the country.

Saying that efforts by the federal government alone would not be sufficient to restore calm, the parties directed their provincial, district and local committees to immediately convene all-party and multi-stakeholder meetings across the country.

The statement called for dialogue to be extended to the grassroots, with local political leaders working to rebuild public trust. It also stressed the need to involve religious leaders, civil society organisations and local administrations in maintaining peace and social harmony.

The parties said they remained committed to providing coordination and leadership from the national level to prevent similar incidents from recurring anywhere in the country.

"We, the central leadership of the political parties, take these tragic and sensitive incidents with the utmost seriousness," the statement said. "We are committed to taking the necessary initiatives, maintaining continuous coordination and monitoring the situation, and providing leadership to ensure that such incidents are not repeated."

The leaders also urged the public to act responsibly on social media, warning that misinformation, hate speech and rumours could further inflame an already sensitive situation.

"At a time like this, misleading information, hateful content and rumours spread through social media and other platforms can worsen the situation," the statement said. "We therefore urge the public to use social media responsibly and call on news organisations to disseminate only verified and factual information."

The parties reminded the government that protecting the lives and property of citizens is the state's foremost responsibility. They urged the government to exercise maximum restraint, restore normalcy, conduct an impartial investigation into the incidents, bring those responsible to justice in accordance with the law, and provide appropriate compensation and relief to victims.

The leaders also reaffirmed their collective commitment to safeguarding national unity and social harmony, pledging to extend every possible support to the government and society in finding a lasting, effective and peaceful resolution to the crisis.