KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has appealed for restraint and urged the government to prioritize dialogue over the use of force in response to the ongoing tensions in Sunsari.

Speaking at the all-party meeting convened by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane, Thapa stressed that the government should abandon a security-first approach and instead engage in meaningful dialogue to restore calm.

He also said that Prime Minister Balen Shah should personally lead the dialogue process.

Thapa left the meeting after delivering his remarks, citing a scheduled Nepali Congress party meeting.