Leaders of political parties have said that the government and the House should be alert and work to fulfil the people’s demand of holding election to a constituent assembly and punishing those involved in suppressing the pro-democracy movement of the country.

Speaking at an interaction in the capital on Wednesday, General Secretary of Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel said recent political developments have proved that Nepal’s politics still lack a leader of statesmanlike stature.

“The House of Representatives should learn to accept a democratic culture,” he said, adding leaders should be moved by the demands of the masses.

Dr Minendra Rijal of NC (Democratic) said that the political parties are going through tough times as they have to prove in front of the people that they are worthy of trust.

He also said that the management of arms belonging to the Maoist could be a major problem.

UML leader Pradip Gaywali said there was a gap in the activities of the House and level of people. “The House should respect the demands of the people,” he said, adding that the parties had been successful in the movement but failed to manage its results.

According to him, UML had demanded the home and defence ministries as it wanted to form a commission to punish enemies of democracy and wanted to ensure that the mistakes of the Mallik Commission were not repeated.

Lilamani Pokharel of the Peoples’ Front Nepal said the people’s awareness of politics was a step ahead of that of the political leaders.